- Eastgate Clock -
Tuesday 28th August 2018 saw the Beardsmobile powering along the A41 and A55, making smooth progress up past Whitchurch. We broke the journey at Chester, enjoying a walk along the City Walls spotting the racecourse and the Shropshire Union Canal (specifically Telford's Warehouse and Northgate Locks). Lunch came courtesy of the Bull & Stirrup Hotel, a red-brick Wetherspoons on Upper Northgate Street where the Ursa Minor ale was apt for a Bears adventure, and we also made sure to admire Eastgate Clock which was installed in honour of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
- Colwyn Bay Promenade -
Having arrived in Colwyn Bay mid-afternoon, we checked into our Premier Inn accommodation near Llandudno Junction then set about exploring our surroundings for the week. Colwyn Bay is a curious place, the North Wales Expressway gouging its way right through the heart of town. There are some hints of elegance among the shops of Station Road while the Promenade is rather nice, the pavement punctuated with interesting snippets depicting a Monty Python foot (for Terry Jones's birthplace) and Prince Madog's legendary voyage to America.
- A shady spot at the Embankment End -
Wednesday 29th August was the first day of the game so Mr B and I took residence at the Embankment End gazing intently upon the sporting action. With the sun out the ground looked an absolute treat, plastic white chairs around the boundary edge. Glamorgan batted first and were hustled out for 203, Craig Meschede top-scoring with 53 not out. Olly Stone bowled impressively quickly to claim 4/28 while Bears skipper Jeetan Patel chipped in with three wickets of his own. Add in an ice cream and the setting was pretty much perfect, Warwickshire reaching stumps on 116 for 3.
- Rabbiting away in Llandudno -
The close of play on Wednesday heralded a ride to Llandudno, whereby we caught the number 12 bus via Penrhyn Bay and Penryhnside. The town has a splendid sweeping seafront and is home to various carved characters from Alice in Wonderland, hence we met the White Rabbit at North Western Gardens (complete with waistcoat and pocket watch). After a stop for chips, we gathered some twilight shots of Llandudno Station with its late Victorian architecture and glass roof. The station is the terminus for trains along the Conwy Valley line from Blaenau Ffestiniog.
- Bring on the Bass -
Another transport aspect we were keen to investigate was the Great Orme Tramway, meaning a look at Victoria Station was essential; although closed for the evening we could still spot tramcar 5 through the railings, one of the funicular fleet that operates the mile or so up the famous headland. Our Llandudno experience was then rounded off with a pint in the Snowdon on Tudno Street, a particularly relaxing and comfortable pub that served up a faultless pint of classic Draught Bass.
- Penrhyn Bay Panorama -
Thursday 30th August dawned with the sun shining brightly on Rhos-on-Sea where our morning promenade perambulations introduced us to the tiny St Trillo's Chapel, the altar of which stands over a sacred well. The rocky foreshore gave a sense of ruggedness when looking out towards Penrhyn Bay, Stephen pondering the numerous wind turbines that have appeared on the horizon since he was last here thirteen years ago (Warwickshire secured a ten wicket win in 2005).
- Piling up the runs -
With thoughts turned back to the current cricket where we watched on in admiration as Ian Bell batted the Bears into the ascendancy. We were delighted to be joined by Dave and Denise who travelled up from Worcester for the occasion - Bell's exceptional 204 was certainly worth the journey, mixing trademark cover drives with plenty of accumulation through third man. Able support was provided by Sam Hain (61) and Keith Barker (43*) so the lead was mounting going into the third day. Pleased with those efforts, Stephen and I partook of pints in the Boat House (a Banks's branded boozer in Rhos-on-Sea centre) and Colwyn Bay's Royal, where to Mr B's utter amazement I was seen drinking Fosters lager.
- Bowling towards victory -
Friday 31st August brought about the denouement of the game as we totalled 503 all out; Barker converted his overnight 43 into a handy half century while Olly Stone struck some lusty late blows. The lead stood at exactly 300 as the Bears attack got to grips with the Glamorgan second innings. Two early wickets for Barker and then it became the Jeetan Patel show, the skipper spinning us to victory with a superb haul of 7 for 83. Despite some last stand fireworks from Smith and Hogan, Warwickshire won by an innings and 35 runs.
- A celebratory drink -
The win means Warwickshire remain in pole position for promotion back to the first division of the County Championship, and feeling in a celebratory mood Mr B and I descended upon Old Colwyn to sample a couple of contrasting pubs that were practically next door to each other. The Sun Inn was a lively Welsh local with a penchant for rugby balls whilst the Red Lion seemed a quieter establishment. Once again Draught Bass was my tipple of choice (and very nice it was too), Stephen having his customary lemonade and blackcurrant.
- Ffestiniog Railway -
Saturday 1st September had been scheduled as the final day of the cricket but with the match already over we did some bonus exploration instead. First off was a ride on the Conwy Valley line down from Llandudno Junction - there was scenery to savour with the river estuary, hilltop castles and little request stop stations to consider, culminating in a long tunnel that emerged among the silent slate heaps of Blaenau Ffestiniog. A shroud of mist gave the town a peculiarly bleak quality as we surveyed the Ffestiniog Railway platform that flanks the main line station.
- Pont Fawr, Llanrwst -
Blaenau Ffestiniog is definitely a place that gets under your skin with the ghosts of the slate industry all around you, though strangely enough most of the shops seem to be closed on Saturdays. We paused in the Manod Hotel for a lunchtime drink then proceeded back up the Conwy Valley line to the small market town of Llanrwst. Pont Fawr - a three arch stone bridge - is a particularly notable landmark here, crossing the River Conwy in connecting us to the Llanrwst United football/cricket grounds. The Eagles Hotel also appealed and is where we kept up to the date with the Wolves score as the men from Molineux secured their first Premier League win away at West Ham.
- Conwy Quayside -
The final calling point of our stay in North Wales was historic Conwy, famed for its mighty castle as constructed in the 1280s following Edward I's Welsh conquest. The fortress offered a spectacular backdrop as we tucked into chips on the quayside with some fishing boats for company. We then rounded off the holiday at the Albion Ale House, a Grade II listed inter-war pub with a well-preserved 1920s interior; having been served at the hatch in the snug, we settled in the Smoke Room opposite a baronial inglenook fireplace - very special indeed! The drive back home on Sunday morning was a happy one after a most enjoyable break, and for the remainder of the season it's very much a case of Come On You Bears!
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