Towersey was the same goodness I've come to expect at the festivals I've been to over here. The barn had a magnificent sing going on and the pub had a mighty fine jam going too. Morris Dancers were dancing in the sunshine as we arrived. Lots of mudcatters there too. Mr. Red, Mike, Terry, Liz, etc etc. Much love. 

After the sing, Mr Red interviewed me for his radio program and I recorded a station ID for him, which was fun for me, cause I'm the guy usually asking for them. 

After the barn sing ended, we got to run around the festival grounds for a bit. Got a bite to eat and checked out the shops and curiosities. A fair amount of weird stuff floating about. Weird puppets, men in dresses and wigs riding motorized refrigerators, faces painted, girls dressed up goth and fancy, crazy instruments being played and sold… I loved it all. 

A couple of more mudcatters down there too which were great to meet. 

Then, Leadfinger Terry Silver drove me to Reading Station. Micca tagged along, but slept through most of the fun. See, if you've ever heard stories about Terry's driving, THERE ALL TRUE. It's manic, high anxiety, speed racer blindfolded sort of stuff. At one point he hit something on my side of the car, going fast, that pushed the passenger side mirror closed. He calmly and casually just asked me to push it back out. While there was some concern for my safety and actually finding the station, all turned out just fine and I am grateful for the ride. Micca helped me find the right platform and bid me farewell and I was off to Ann and Steve, I was off to Wales.

The train ride was lovely. I enjoyed the landscape and comfort of the train. Passed the madness of the Reading Festival on the way out and WOW was there a lot of people there. Tents were scattered a out for miles as the train kept rolling by. 

I wanted to keep this a secret so not to get teased, but I got a bit confused and missed the Newport stop. The station was under construction and you had to open the door yourself, and signs had Welsh on them, and I blew my chance. To add to the confusion, I couldn't reach Anne on the phone, she didn't have my number and she had to rush back home to save the lamb she was roasting me for dinner. 

I got off at the next stop and caught the first train back to Newport which, as luck would have it, was ready to go as soon as I found it. I got ahold of Anne as soon as I got on the train, and they circled back to get me after rescuing the lamb. Lost about 35 minutes and caused Anne and Steve 2 trips to the station was the worst of it all. 

The lamb was perfect, the dinner, the companionship and conversation was great and off to bed for an early start to Llancaiach Fawr Manor. 

Anne and Steve work at Llancaiach Fawr Manor where it's 1645 all the time. They are actors who play out the roles of servants on the stately manor. I went into work with them and got to go through as a patron. It was most impressive and I enjoyed it very much. There was also a dog show (DOG SHOW!) going on outside, so that was fun to see too. Among much else, I saw a Welsh beagle that was almost as handsome as Merle. 

Ned picked me up from there and took me deep into the Welsh countryside and preserves called Brecon Beacon. Lambs everywhere, seemingly roaming free over the stunning green and heather hills of Wales. All the while Ned tirelessly answering my endless questions about life and culture and history of the region. I learned a lot and saw some great views I've been wanting to for many many years. 

From there, he took me into Caldiff, which I later learned is the fastest growing city in Europe. A college town, a holiday destination, a port and an all around bustling city, visually stunning in the old and new architecture.  It was especially hopping because it was a bank holiday Monday. 

Carnival rides, vendor booths, music, parachuting, rescue dog demonstrations… a lot was going on. A lot. Ned knows the city well, and was the best tour guide I could have possibly had. He works downtown at a touch-me science museum and planetarium, the finest of which I've ever seen. He took me for a custom tour on our way back out of town. 

A quiet evening here, giving me a chance to rest and other things, like shave for the first time since last Wednesday at Whitby and post this update. Another lovely dinner from Anne and Steve, more of the same super duper hosts I've had along the way. I am well cared for and feel very much at home even though I'm in a different foreign town and country and home every night.