Photographers – Think Differently..
This shot was taken in Porthmadog, North Wales a couple of years ago. It’s one of the engines used on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway.
We traveled up to the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog which once was the slate capital of Wales. The slate quarried here has roofed buildings all over the world.
Photo details: Camera Nikon D7200 with a Sigma 17-70 mm lens.
f/5 @ 1/160 sec, ISO 100 Lens focal length 28 mm.
Thank you,
George.
The Buddha of North Wales.
Thank you for visiting.
George
So this the last post on my recent tour around North Wales. Today we’re of to Harlech Castle or Castell Harlech in the native Wlesh language. This is Wales most famous castle and also a world heritage site.
First a few links for those that are interested in a little history.
Men of Harlech A version of this tune was us in the movie “Zulu” (1964)
Lyrics Various version’s of the above song.
Has can be seen it was a warm day but great for biking, so arriving at the car park has usual there is no motorcycle parking provided. So a no parking area was used and it frees up a couple of car parking places. Just has we parked up another couple from Germany pulled in along side us.
Cable locks secure the helmets to the bikes and with my panniers empty I store my riding gear in them making it more comfortable to walk around in the heat. Into the castle entrance which can be seen in the above photo. With our wallets a little lighter it was across the foot bridge into the castle.
Will leave the photos to tell the story.
A sample of the photo’s taken and photo’s of the two friends I was touring with.
After four days in Wales it way time to go our own ways, With me going to the Peak District in England, another going to the south of England and one back home to Ireland. So a final breakfast and with the bike packed it was back on the road alone.
a few photographs has I made my way across Wales and below is my final photo and what part of motorcycling is all about.
The roads.
There is going to be another part of the trip through the Peak District and up into the Yorkshire Dales but that is another post.
Hope you enjoyed the trip in Wales, it’s a beautiful country with unpronounceable place names and the people warm and friendly. That’s my third time staying in Wales and not my last. If you ever get the chance come and see Wales you will not be disappointed.
Thank you for joining me on this short tour and I happy to bring you along.
George.
The plan for today was a short motorcycle ride out and after lunch a trip on the steam train to Blaenau Ffestiniog. It was a slate mining town in the mountains of the Snowdonia national park. So has it turned out the morning was wet and dull with low cloud covering the hills. Motorcycling was cancelled and a walk and a few coffee’s in the town of Porthmadog was the order of the day.
This bookshop caught my eye, good job it was closed or i might still be there.
A view of the harbour.
This was taken in the evening when we returned from Blaenau Ffestiniog.
We were to travel on the steam train on a return journey but it broke down and we had a diesel engine on the outward bound leg of the trip.
There’s the yellow diesel getting fuel.
Our restored third class carriage ready to leave the station.
For a bit of scale can you see the red motor car bottom centre of the photo.
A few shots taken from the train.
this is our diesel engine which is rare to see pulling this train.
Move views when i can see pass the trees and a reflection shot in the carriage.
Blaenau Ffestiniog station.
The engine from our trip and I grab this shot of another carriage. Not much comfort here and I believe the bench seats would have been just wood in there day.
These pillars are made from slate tiles has seen in the first shot.
Slate art in memory of the men who worked and died in mining and an engine and carriages that transported the stone.
A short video shot on my phone, not great quality but gives a feel for the journey. Also you will see us cross above the line we are on. It’s the only spiral loop railway line in the UK.
Back into Porthmadog and the sun has returned to end our trip today. 
A few shots of the engine before it left to go to where ever they park up for the night and we head to the station where there is a pint of real ale and a dinner with my name on it. I will leave you with some shots taken close to the station.
Hope you enjoyed your trip on the train with me, enjoyed taking you all there. Back soon with the final post from my Wales trip.
Thank you,
George.
This is the first post in a short series on my motorcycle tour of North Wales. I include a couple of links on the history of Portmeirion and the filming of the Prisoner, a cult 1960’s television series filmed there.
My Photo essay a walk through Portmeirion.
Parking the motorcycle in the car park and entering a place I recall from television. It was a little overcast but warm has I start my photo essay.
Lets enter, notice the painted ceiling in the archway.
One of the bikers I was travelling with.
Tides out, the following photos off a young blackbird are taken at the railings on top of the round platform in the photograph.
Moving on.
Up into the village.
Through the archway and into the gardens.
I liked the scale this child gives to the chest pieces.
A short climb back up into the village.
A short stop to play my respects to the Buddha.
He had a great view across the gardens from his lofty perch.
some little teasers of the garden has I make my way around the village.
The garden from another view.
It ‘s down hill from here, with a steep decline to the shore.
Things aren’t always what they seem.
With the last shot looking at the climb back up to the motorcycle, but not before a coffee and a short chat with other visitors.
Thank you for company on the walk around Portmeirion, Hope you enjoyed it and I’ll spare you the walk back up that hill. There are some longer walk in the grounds around Portmeirion, but walking in motorcycle gear is not recommended. Well that’s my excuse…
Feel free to comment, good or bad let me know, have a good weekend.
George.
George McNeill Photography 
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