The Brecon Beacons

Tuesday 28th October, 2008

Arrived at the Brecon Beacons Youth Hostel at lunch time today, after a brief stop to see the castle at Abergavenny (above photo taken from that vantage point). I followed my own advice and left Bath very early to avoid any chance of arriving here after dark. Thank God! I would never have found it if the girl in Tourist Information had not given me explicit directions and written them on a map. It’s one of two YHAs within a few miles of Brecon, and they’re both wedged in between farms on narrow roads bordered with hedges. Another problem is that I’ve lost the folder I assembled with all my bookings and addresses and phone numbers. I do have most of them in the memory of my laptop; I hope that will be enough when I turn up to take the ferry to Ireland in a couple of days.

Image via Wikipedia

One would imagine that coming from NEW South Wales, as I do, I would see something like the landscape of South Wales. Look and judge for yourself. Do we have green grass? Do we have black hills? What a shock for someone who believes that language carries meaning.

It’s beautiful here. Go here to see the photos of Wales. Tomorrow we’ll ramble round the hills and look at the country about us.

Not feeling particularly comfortable tonight. The youth hostel is chockers with families (fathers & matching mothers) with children. (It’s mid-term break.) I am the odd one out, the single parent. Alex is fine, though. Enjoying himself immensely. He’s downstairs now having found some children to play with. I’m alone keying my computer and feeling like a goose among the swans. I never felt this lonely when we stayed in empty accommodation or when we were surrounded by pairs of friends traveling together. Something about other people’s families that is so exclusive.