Sea Breezes . . .

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying

excerpt from Sea Fever by John Maesfield

When you are in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park one thing is certain . . you are never very far from the sea.  I was raised to the sea and whereas you might have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth, I was born with a fish hook and salt water runs in my blood for my father and I shared a love of the ocean, with all her moods and we treated her with great respect.  I love the high places of this wonderful world we share with each other, I love the lush green fields, the deep, dark, green and mysterious forests, and the dry, barren deserts . . but from ice capped pole to ice capped pole, my heart belongs to the wild, white-crested ocean deep.  I live in a sky blue wonderland where the foam crested sea meets the marshmallow sky.

With over 185 miles of coast line, small fishing harbours dot the north of the county; the biggest ria estuary in Europe is at Milford Haven; the county town of Haverfordwest with its trading wharves; the famous Welsh pirate Barti Ddu from Little Newcastle; the history and traditions of the county of Pembroke have been shaped over many centuries by the sea. 

Today, Pembrokeshire is synonymous with tourism, and the Coast Path is one of the highlights of the county, now recognised on a global level as one of the 'must see' places on the planet.  To say I am fortunate to live here is an understatement.  It is a privilege and honour to live here, less than even a stone's throw from such majesty and beauty.  Here, Gentle Reader, are a few more photographs of the magic land I call home . .

Images of Porthclais Harbour . .
. . a small but very important and ancient harbour that served the surrounding villages, hamlets, and farms in the days long before roads and cars.  
Hidden and now virtually unreachable, Porthclais is the site of one of three important Holy Wells in the St Davids area. Reputed to be the site of the baptism of David (Dewi Sant) the Patron Saint of Wales, its use as a sea port is believed to date back to Roman times.

There are Lime Kilns in Porthclais Harbour, a further indication of the importance of this small inlet, and these are now restored and looked after by the National Trust.  These days, Porthclais is a picturesque fishing harbour where pleasure boats are moored and local fishermen still ply, bringing home a catch of fresh fish, lobsters and crabs to the delight of visitors and locals alike.

 The coast is now a major playground too . . the sport of Coasteering was invented here 

and water sports are all the rage now from kayaking . . .

to surfing . . .

and sailing . . .

. . . in the often idyllic calm that rivals many a tropical location . . .

Flowers proliferate . . later there will be a post dedicated to flowers of Pembrokeshire and the Coast Path . . today I share these . . .

A deep pink Mallow with a backdrop of yellow Western Gorse

Pink Thrift sprinkled like stars and tumbling over the cliff edge to the sea below

 There are always beautiful colours of the rocks, the sea, and light sparkling everywhere you look

blue sea and sky . . multi-hued rocks . . gentle green grass topped cliffs. . as far as the eye can see . .

and hidden caves are secret places below the ledges where we stand

if quietly you creep along the path you may come upon a cormorant drying his wings

the mood can change so quick at sea from calm and idyll scene . .

 to waves that start to whip the rocks below . .

but all beware the fog that rolls in from the depths to lured unwitting sailors to a certain death in days gone by on treacherous rocks that lay in wait  . . our shore is littered with the wrecks from days long gone before the dawn of GPS!

soon all will be restored . . calm seas as out we look across a green and pleasant land . . the westering sun slips slowly to the sea . .