Day 230 - August 18th

This afternoon we went for one last visit to the beach before returning home tomorrow. The weather wasn't kind. No sooner had we arrived than the rain started so we sat in the car until it stopped. Once it stopped we ventured onto the beach (which there wasn't much of due to it being high tide!). It was VERY blustery! Ferryside beach is a nice quite beach and we have had some nice walks along it in previous years but today wasn't a day to hang about for too long.

Earlier in the day we had again dodged the rain. We had driven to Pembrey Country Park for another game of crazy golf. At times it had been warm and sunny but no sooner had we finished our game than the heavens opened and it poured with rain.

Despite the weather, it was a good day none the less.

Day 229 - August 17th

Today we spent time at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. It is such a lovely peaceful place to visit and although on other occasions we have visited slightly earlier in the season there was still lots to see both outside ....

..... and inside the large domed glasshouse.

The flower beds were spectacular. Here are just a few of the photos which Lara and I took.

In the new tropical butterfly house were butterflies from across the world. They flew freely around us as we walked through but very few settled so were difficult to photograph.

Outside the garden centre shop Lara found it far easier to photograph this Peacock Butterfly which was sunning itself on a terracotta pot.

Also new this year was the 'British Bird of Prey Centre' whose home is now at the Botanic Garden. They have daily flying displays and we were able to watch one during the afternoon. Two juvenile Red Kites were part of the display and it was good to see these birds, which we regularly see flying over own own garden, up close and flying so low.

Day 228 - August 16th

This morning we visited Kidwelly Castle. The Norman castle overlooks the River Gwendraeth in the town of Kidwelly. The relatively well preserved remains of the castle date from 1114 to 1476.

The castle was used in the filming of the opening scenes of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'.

It was quite blustery up on the ramparts but well worth it for the view.

With more rain forecast for the afternoon we spent the afternoon at the cinema at Carmarthen watching 'Spiderman Homecoming'.