Day 23 Tywyn to Machynlleth (16.0 miles; cumulative 374.3)

Back to solo walking today. I caught the first train back to Tywyn, home of the Talyllyn narrow gauge steam railway and inspiration for Thomas the Tank Engine.

The first part of the walk was along the promenade and then across a long section of beach, in practice a tiny strip of sand between the dunes and the sea. Eventually I reached Aberdovey, a genteel seaside resort. It was about 9.30am and the town had not yet stirred. A local told me that all of the half term holiday makers had left yesterday. 

The path soon left the coast and involved a steep climb deep into rolling hills. Apart from a mountain biker and two workmen repairing a broken fence (the latter put some coins into my collection jar), I had the route entirely to myself. 

The final section was a gradual descent into Machynlleth, the seat of  the Welsh parliament in the 1400s, followed by an hour's train ride along the scenic Cambrian coast and back to my base.

Shock news! After almost a month without rain, Derek, the BBC Walking Weatherman, is warning of possible showers on Saturday.

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