GRASMERE

We're at the home of Wordsworth, Lin & I went to his school. Lovely here. Went up to Allan Bank which was the home of the NTrust founder. Our room overlooks the lake & is walking distance to village, so off to pub tonight. Went on forest walk with mountaineer Lil & her stick to see the red squirrells. She did good, but no squirrells. The NT house is really nice, it is not really historic but they welcome you to use everything in the house, make your own tea, read the books, have a picnic. It's really nice. Lot of lambs about in the fields, Herdwick's which are special to the area. I think Lin's having some for dinner.

SECRETS OF THE....

Zoo. We are at Chester Zoo where they film the TV show & where they burnt an animal house & cooked some of the captives. They still haven't repaired it. Saw some of TV stars, but didn't see Boris. A big zoo that does a lot of conservation. They grow their own coral. We saw a fossa, never seen one before. Lots of animal babies evident. 

SNOWDON

Spent day in Planners at the foot of Snowdon. Weather brilliant all day. Firstly at the slate quarry listening to the tales of the quarrymen, fascinating. The money they made compared to the owners. Next we took the rack & pinion train to the summit. It was pretty crowded up the top. I wanted to walk the 5 miles up, but Lin was having none of it. Where was Paul when I needed him, he would have walked with me. Went to a nice local pub, the Black Boy, where we finally got our lamb. Very nice too, leaving tomorrow for Chester zoo, then Ambleside. Sorted the car warning light.

STILL A PRISONER

Portmeirion is stunning, it is such a beautiful place, from its tranquility, lovely shoreline and forest walks, trees from all over the world, the architecture - just great. You can see I have developed colour coordination, the queen is not as tall as a king & McGoohan is not a number. We spent an hour or so learning about David Lloyd George, he was a bit of rascal with the women in his life. The weather is wonderful, the castle picture was 7 in the evening.

DROVE THE TRAIN...

to that station - it's easy for you to say. Stunning countryside in & around Snowdonia, can you spot Shaun? That's some impressive castle. It's Penrhyn, built by Pennant family in the 1840's. They made their money in slate mining & then sugar plantations in Jamaica. (no she went on her own). We did a nice circular drive around Snowdon, which has lovely views now the weather has improved. Off to see the prisoner tomorrow.

CAERNARFON

What do you need on a road trip? A working car! How about one where the tyre warning light comes on 5 mins after starting - not. Trip was good, lovely breakfast at Morrison's. Caernarfon teeming with tourists, very run down now, loads of empty shops. Castle was good, didn't see PoW. So much walking up & down tiny spiral staircases that Linda's spine got compressed - look what that helmet's done to her head, squashed, or what. Weather getting better after it rained all the way on the drive. Got to get the car manual out to find out what the warning light really means - tyre problem or pencil stuck in my cup.

PACKING...

for the weather in the UK can be a problem. Cocktails or cocking cold? Do I need a language book, or will Google cope with Geordie, Scouse, Welsh & all the others we will come across. Who knows - nobody knows. Our provisional itinerary, 'cos we haven't booked it all is;-

18 May Snowdon, Carnarvon & surrounds.

22 May. Chester zoo for the secret life, I wonder if Boris is still around.

23 May. Lake District. Grasmere etc

25 May. Fort William

29 May. Inverness

31 May. Perth

2 June. Beamish

4 June. Whitby

6 June. Lincoln