Base Camp Journal: Tenby
Since we aren't going abroad anytime soon, Robby and I have taken to visiting places around Britain in the Swift Base Camp, affectionately named 'Bertha'. We have been a couple of places closer to home already, but there wasn't much to see.
Tenby is Robby's favourite location in Britain, and it's certainly the best place we have stayed so far.
We managed to get a place on Meadows Farm, which seems the only site within walking distance of Tenby. It's very basic, pretty much just a field on a hill overlooking the town. Bertha needed to be propped on several bricks to get it level, but it's more comfortable than a hotel room, and the site offers a breathtaking view of the coast. And, since we were near the top of a hill, and away from most the light pollution, the night sky is wonderful when it's clear.
Tenby was relatively quiet, on account of the weather and the current restrictions making things somewhat awkward. It is a nice little harbour town, with lots of narrow roads, very old stone buildings and small independent shops everywhere. There is at least one pub on every street, plus a few indoor markets and shopping arcades.
We made our way past the sea front to get beverages and other things for the weekend from Sainsbury, and encountered several jellyfish along the way back. It was the first time I've ever seen one up close, and I never thought they were so big and heavy. Their skin feels much harder than jelly - leathery. Robby tells me that Manowar jellyfish - the really nasty ones - are sometimes found in the waters here.
Abereiddy
After visiting Pembroke docks for an hour or so, from which one can take a ferry to southern Ireland, we went through Haverfordwest to Abereiddy, as the Blue Lagoon was near the top of the list of places Robby wanted to see.
Abereiddy really was a dismal place. I don't know if it's more pleasant when the weather is good, but there was little to see apart from dark rocks and lots of water. And it's effectively in the middle of nowhere, miles from any village or main road.
The Blue Lagoon was a slate quarry long ago. Now the sea runs into it, creating the lagoon, where the water is tinted blueish-green. I suspect that's because the sediment contains traces of copper oxide.
A few hundred metres from the Blue Lagoon is the westernmost point of Wales, from which one can see the coast near Snowdonia. To the West is southern Ireland.
Waterwynch Bay
Early in the evening we made a short tab to Allen's View, which is right next to Meadow Farm. Robby wanted to find a way onto the First Bay and Second Bay - both of them are beaches with no obvious way to get there.
We did discover a hidden route to Waterwynch Bay, further along the Coastal Path. This didn't appear on the map, and very few tourists would even know it exists. This seems the only eay onto the other two beaches.