Peace and space

I arrived in Tenby on a Thursday afternoon, after a 5-hour drive, with a sense of freedom.

I had 5 days away from everything and everyone - away from any responsibilities.

This is always dangerous for me.
This freedom comes with a sense of excitement, and a sense of excitement leads to that 'f*ck it, I'll have a pint' feeling...and there were lots of nice pubs in this cosy seaside town.

With that in mind, I took myself away those pubs, onto the beach, and just walked...until I was distracted enough that it wasn't an issue any more.

It was more important for me to have a fresh head for the next day.

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When the morning came, I got up at a decent time and had my full, cooked breakfast, then headed out.

I'd been told about Bosherton Lily Ponds and Barafundle Bay, so that's where I headed.

I went to Bosherton Lily Ponds first, as - according to Waze - that was nearest to me.

I was told they were peaceful.
They were.

These aren't ponds in the 'small puddle in the garden' sense - these are vast, sweeping expanses of still water, surrounded by trees and covered in lilies.

On a still day (which it was) they just sit there, reflecting the sun.
It's quiet.
It's almost tranquil.

There were other visitors dotted around (maybe it'd be busier in the summer - this was October), but I was largely on my own.

You can walk across the ponds at various points, on stone walkways.

And as you get higher, you can just sit and watch.

But there's also a beach you can head to — Broad Haven South.

I headed there after some time staring at the ponds, and was greeted with wide open space, which is one of the things I love about Welsh beaches.

Welsh beaches aren't (unsurprisingly) tropical and fringed with palm trees — they're wild, windswept, and rugged...certainly in autumn/winter.

This was no different.

I spread my arms, to soak it all in.
I walked towards the sea.
I listened to the waves coming in.
I stepped over beached jellyfish.
I flung a pebble out into the water.

Then I came back up towards the dunes and sat for a bit - looking out towards the horizon.

When I'd had enough, I headed back the way I came, jumped in my car, and set off towards Barafundle Bay.

You have to park a little way from the beach and walk along grassy clifftops, but that's fine by me: great view, fresh air, and only a handful of people.

Barafundle Bay is a wide arc of sweeping sand.
You can tell it gets mobbed on a warm summer's day.

In October it's empty - almost desolate.
And one lone tree trunk sits in the middle of it - worn smooth, no branches, nothing else around it.
It's symbolic (or it was for me).
Defiant.
A real middle finger to the world.

I stayed and stared again.
So much noise - what with the wind and the sea - yet so much peace and quiet.