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As promised here is Jen's blog from our day on Bardsey Island:
When Kev returns from his annual long distance walk I ask 'What do you think about when walking?' When he answers 'nothing' I truly find this hard to believe. I was therefore amazed to find during our walk my mind quietened to the point I thought nothing...just enjoyed every moment of each day.
So here we are on Day 10 and time perhaps to explain the whole reason for our 'Honeymoon Hike'. The answer lies in this little place Kev and I have been visiting for about the last eight years. Apart from the beautiful and stunning walks around Aberdaron every time we visited I discovered more and more a great sense of calm and peace with our visits highlighted by spending some time in the tiny, beautiful St Hywyn's church. I learnt that Aberdaron is steeped in history as a last stop before pilgrims made their way over to Ynys Enlli/Bardsey and as such is a 'thin place' - a Celtic Christian term for those rare, silent, still places in the world where heaven and earth are able to touch.
So we were both very excited when Colin said today the weather was going to be fine enough to take the boat to Bardsey. Colin's family have lived and farmed on Bardsey for generations. It is due to their hard work that the island continues to be developed as a sustainable, although small community today.
The boat took us from Porth Meudwy over the Bardsey Sound, notorious in the past for shipwrecks...indeed as we reached the island the iconic lighthouse came into view.
Kev was delighted that the seals were waiting to greet us. We spent some time watching their charming antics, although at times we did wonder whether it was the seals watching us!
Making our way across Bardsey towards Mynydd Enlli I had to keep stopping to take pictures of the tiny, unusual wildflowers, so as usual I lagged behind Kev who was storming ahead in his full walk mode. When I eventually caught up we were both totally taken aback by the view both along the island and back towards the mainland. I imagined centuries of pilgrims and islanders taking in this incredible image of the Lleyn.
We ate our lunch looking back at the mainland and watching Colin ferrying visitors across the water. Why is it that food tastes so much better when you're sitting on top of a mountain?!
Finally we made our way back down and explored some of the island's buildings including Ty Capel and remains of the ancient abbey. Before we knew it was almost 3pm, time to return to the boat.
The weather by now had changed and our return boat journey was very exciting with a very choppy sea and plenty of sea spray. Colin is the only link the islanders have with the mainland and I can't begin to imagine how important both he and his boat are to their lives. Before we knew it we were back on the mainland, leaving Bardsey behind us but sure to visit again.
-- Posted from Kev's iPhone
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