After flying into Heathrow arriving on Saturday morning we collected a car and started driving west towards Wales.   We stopped at a Pub called 'Bug & Spider' near a little village called Hilmarten and were most disappointed when they didn't serve lunch - bugs and spiders sounded pretty good for lunch.  They sent us off to another pub in the village however we soon gave up on that after getting stuck in some little streets not made for full size cars.  On we went to Calne and found the Westbrook pub and very pleased we didn't settle for Bugs earlier.  Had a great meal here and on the way out asked about B&Bs. The Brookside B&B was unanimously recommended and directions, just down the road and around the awful bend and it's right there.  True to their word we soon found it and within 5 minutes felt we were arriving to visit an old friend.  The hostess, Christine, has a happy knack of making you feel at home immediately.  We were glad to stretch out and have a rest for a while before going off to see the Caen Hill Locks later in the afternoon.  This is an amazing engineering feat and wonderful that these canals are now being restored and used again.   I watched a long boat going through a couple of locks.   The man was taking the boat through, the lady walking along unwinding the lock to fill the next level.  I chatted to her briefly.  They are going to Reading and I asked how long that would take.  'Depending on how many pubs we stop at along the way - we should make it by Thursday though'.  Must be a few pubs along the way.  She said today was their first day and she was worn out, they were nearly up to the top of the 16 locks. 

Sunday.  Breakfast this morning was very entertaining.  We heard numerous funny stories about the comings and goings of life in the local village and Christine's sense of humor really came to life.  Colin, the husband was less outgoing and just kept coming back and forth with whatever was needed in the dining room.  Ian always likes to know about people's heritage and as their surname is Bennemousant asked about Colin's.  French Moroccon says Christine and do you know what it means?   Well 'benne' is 'son of'' and mousant is miserable one.  I rest my case.  He can't even eat fish and chips without coming home, serving it on a plate and using a knife and fork.  Colin just continues to smile and go back and forth to the kitchen.
Once on our way we headed towards Wales and stopped at the Clifton Suspension Bridge across the Avon near Birmingham.  Another wonderful piece of engineering.  It is obviously a popular walk across and back.  Cars pay a 50 pence toll to cross.

Next stop was lunch at a pub at Rhiwderyn where we were greeted by a young girl who said 'you're Australian, I booked my ticket to Australia yesterday - I leave on 19th October.  The meal was good and the service even better. 

As it was still early we decided to head down towards the coast and drove to Barry and then thought Barry Island sounded like an interesting place.  Might even be a lighthouse I guess.  Well it turned out to be the most crass place we have even seen.  Packed with weekend day visitors, carnivals, markets noise, cars, just awful.  Glad to get out of the place.   Back up and further around the coast we are now at Ewenny on the South West Coast of Wales for the night.