Once our individual Saturday tasks and errands were complete, we collected Owain and drove out to the Wye Valley for lunch at the Anchor Inn restaurant opposite Tintern Abbey, followed by an afternoon walk. It's still a family favourite venue, as a result of our children growing up in the area, as we lived in nearby Chepstow. There were plenty of people out and about, many of them walking their dogs. Traffic was light, and the place wasn't swamped with tourists. It doesn't begin to get really busy until Easter.
Although Cardiff was cool and cloudy, the sun was shining through haze when we arrived. A topcoat wasn't needed during the hour's brisk ascent to the Devil's Pulpit view-point overlooking Tintern on the English side, where the Offa's Dyke path runs. The most common sign of spring under the forest canopy of leafless trees is the appearance of garlic leaves, though it'll be a few weeks longer before white flowers appear and their aroma flavours the air. No wonder witches and vampires were said to be repelled by garlic. In dark woodland places it's one of the early natural signs that wintry death is being overwhelmed by new life.
Before driving home we had tea in the gift shop tea room opposite the Anchor. The setting sun was in our faces as we travelled, less of an annoyance because of the haze and more of an enjoyment, to return after five and still be in broad daylight, not driving by headlamps for the first time in four months. A blessed relief. For once, no sermon to prepare, as I've invited 'Becca to preach tomorrow at Abercanaid.
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