Beddgelert

Our first day hiking near Beddgelert was magical. Even with the on-and-off drizzle, there was a mystical feel to the ancient forests and lush valleys we trekked through. I led the way as we followed along the rushing Colwyn river, crossed over stone bridges and stopped frequently to take in the stunning scenery around us.

One of the highlights was when we came upon Gelert's grave, the legendary loyal hound from Welsh folklore. I had heard tales about Gelert before, but it was fascinating to actually see the monument and bronze statue honouring his unwavering devotion. We paused for a while, taking photos and reflecting on the famous story about this dog who belonged to Llywelyn the Great, a 13th century Welsh prince. The story goes that one day Llywelyn went hunting and left his infant son in the care of Gelert. When Llywelyn returned, the cradle was overturned, Gelert was stained with blood, and the baby was nowhere in sight. Believing the dog had killed his heir, Llywelyn drew his sword and tragically killed Gelert in a fit of rage. Moments later, he heard his son's cries coming from the corner - unharmed, but next to the body of a mighty wolf that Gelert had slain after protecting the child. Llywelyn realized his grave mistake far too late. Overcome with remorse, he erected this stone monument honouring Gelert's unwavering loyalty and devotion until the tragic end.

We spent several minutes by Gelert's grave, walking around the monument and taking photos. I reached down to give the bronze statue's shiny head a pat, just as so many visitors over the centuries have done for good luck and to pay respects to this loyal hound. The famous tale of Gelert will stick with me forever after seeing the actual monument honouring his devotion that tragically went unrewarded.

After reflecting on Gelert's story, we continued on our hike through the lush valley; by the time we looped back, we worked up quite an appetite. We made a quick stop in Beddgelert village for some delicious ice cream cones before heading back to our campsite. The rain had cleared and the clouds parted to reveal a vibrant rainbow in the valley. It was like the perfect ending to an enchanted day in the Welsh countryside.

Back at our camp along the river, I fired up the new portable gas BBQ I had bought just for this trip. The savoury smell of barbecue soon filled the campsite air.

I handled seasoning and flipping the sizzling burgers while also carefully arranging the chicken on the top rack. Cooking outdoors always makes food taste better. After some trial and error controlling the temperamental propane flames, I figured out how to use the multiple levels to cook everything just right. Soon I had plates stacked high with perfectly charred burgers and tender chicken.

As I ate, Dana and I swapped stories well into the night next to the river. The smoky BBQ flavour added to our epic first night of camping. I couldn't wait to fire up the gas grill again and cook the rest of the meat we had packed for this trip. After a long day of hiking, the food and campfire hit the spot before we finally retired to our tents with full bellies. It was the perfect start to our Wales camping adventure!

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