Dai's walk around Wales blog

Wales is a land full of industrial relics, especially in relation to the railway, there are a large number of disused railway lines in wales, many of them have been turned into cycle tracks. This tunnel is on the old Neath to Pontypool railway line and it may have been designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel who is said to have designed the nearby viaduct at Pontwalby. It is thought that my great grandfather Thomas Snow helped build this particular railway line.

I'm always open to different methods of learning and I've always been fascinated by nature as I suspect most of us are. Today I'm trialing a new method of learning about nature but its based upon my last walk in which I tried reading a foraging book whilst on the walk but found it difficult to manage the information and to match plants and trees to those in the book. Following this I passed a number of Rowan trees which had on them, strangely enough Rowan berrys. These are easily identifiable so as always I think it should be a case of start with what you know and move on from there. So today I've checked out this great video on YouTube prior to leaving for my walk. If you click on the picture it will take you straight to the video with a view to learning more about the Rowan Tree.

This guy is good, his name is Dane de Luca. Rowanberries on the lower slopes of Moel Penderyn

I did pick a load of rowanberries but time was of the essence so didn't get a chance to try making the jelly. Maybe next year.

Today I did my first stage for 5 years of the Neath Port Talbot tour, leg 32. The walk was from Resolven Canal car park to the top of Hirfynydd follwowed by a loop above Rheola House.

Its election time again for Dai Richards the politician. This is my official election video which is a recording of me singing the Kinks 'dedicated follower of fashion and changing into Shyaway at the same time. I'm not in this election to win it. Uploaded to YouTube for posterity.

https://youtu.be/XGA2Vlvi40k