Aberglaslyn Gorge

We started the day with a visit to the 19th-century Sygun Copper Mine, conveniently within walking distance of the inn where we're staying.

Since California has significant mining history, I'd toured the site of a historical gold mine. And I knew that Welsh miners were among those who worked in the New Almaden mines, bringing cinnabar-laden rock to the surface. The opportunity to climb up through a section of this copper mine was fascinating.

Our route through the mine deposited us uphill of the entrance—and right next to the trail we would follow to reach the Aberglaslyn Gorge.

The trailhead wasn't obvious. In fact, it looked more like ... a brook. My current hiking boots are waterproof, which had seemed superfluous for my typical outings. [Not today.]

From our hillside vantage point, our view included the inn where we're staying (lower right corner in the next photo).

As we made our way out through the valley, a group of school-aged children approached. I overheard one exclaim “Americans!” as they passed. [Unusual, are we?]

We followed the footpath along the river's edge, grateful for the handholds drilled into the rock around one narrow bend.

Reaching the town of Beddgelert, many of the buildings seemed perilously close to the water, but ... they've been there awhile.

We enjoyed some tea and scones before exploring the town. We were drawn to an outfitter's shop, where a fleece top printed with small flowers caught my eye. “I don't need another fleece top,” I sighed. Our wise guide admonished me: “It's not about what you need, it's about what you want!” She was right; I'd surely have regretted walking away. [Besides, it was on sale.]

Life is all about how you make it.

At dinner, we walked past an unusual (for us) sight: coal burning in a fireplace.

Covering some 5.5 miles today, almost half of which was flat, was tolerable. Ibuprofen helped, but didn't have a lasting effect. As luck would have it, one of the women in our group has relevant expertise (knees, in particular); the problem is with my IT band.

Tomorrow's ascent of Snowdon is off the table, for me.