Wales

Driving from the train station in Wales to the Preseli Lodge I thought a lot about music and how it relates to our memories. There were only five BU students on the trip (me and 4 girls). We were picked up at the train station by a cab called DJ cab, which lived up to its name. The driver bumped some pretty righteous tunes, but I couldn’t help but think “this isn’t right.” We were driving through one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen (although it was nighttime so I didn’t know it yet) and rambunctious hip-hop, R and B and pop songs were buzzing out of the speakers. The girls got really excited when Amy Winehouse’s Valerie came on. It became the theme song of the trip. But the problem with having a theme song is that now I will forever associate those lyrics with Wales. The two are pretty incongruous but will always be linked by my mind. Though maybe that is a great thing. Now I get to remember Wales whenever that song comes on the radio. But I don’t think it deserves to have that prestige. But because the power music has over memory, Amy Winehouse cheated her way into one of the most pristine memories I may ever have.

I guess that’s beside the point. The south coast of Wales was incredible. We went kayaking, we hiked along the Atlantic ocean and the Irish sea. We even jumped off cliffs into some of the bluest water I have ever set sight on. We stayed in a town called Pembrokeshire.

The back roads were pretty crazy. (Pictured here) The banks are so high and the road is so narrow so that you feel half underground when you ride on them. It really makes you feel like you are completely out of view from the world. You feel almost lost. Finding bearings is quite difficult from halfway underground. Also, when two cars come from opposite directions, one has to reverse until the other car can fit. It is not too efficient.

The water was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but at about 10 am on Saturday the four girls and I (along with our guide) jumped right into the Atlantic. We had on full wet suits, but those failed to help our exteriors. I don’t know if you can feel much more alive.

The girls were surprisingly not really outdoorsy. I thought anyone on this trip would be a real hiker/camper person. These girls were more Ugg than hiking boot, more Northface than Columbia. Still, they did well. Complaining stayed to a minimum and they participated in each activity. I guess I was just slightly disappointed that I didn’t meet people I had more in common with. Oh well. Plus they were quite nice.

To go kayaking, we had to put on full wetsuits, waterproof jackets, gloves, boots, outer shorts, these skirt things that kept the water out of the boats and life preservers. I had to pee as soon as I finished suiting up. It was a long 3 hrs, and I let a lot of fluids out in some woods in Pembrokeshire.

We kayaked in this lagoon (above) and played a few games including Kayak Polo. While trying to pass the ball to one of my teammates, who was behind me, I lost my balance and went in. It was freezing especially because all the gear trapped the water.

It felt great to see the ocean and be away from London. I love cities, but I also like to get away from them. At the bar at the lodge they had a beer called Hobgoblin Ale, which was a dark amber color and had a real smooth finish. London Pride has competition.

Here are a couple videos I tried taking. I think (if these work) I will try to make short video clips a fairly regular thing. In the second video, just listen to the fury of the ocean.

Comments Welcome,

Andrew