Thankfully we didn't find too much in the town that we had to have because packing up tomorrow to board a train is already something I'm dreading. Then, it was off on our next adventure. Just up the road, we met a group called GoBelow at a local cafe. Here we suited up in water-proof pants, helmets, headlamps, wellies, and harnesses before boarding a minibus with our eight fellow companions and two guides to once again get into something we weren't totally prepared for.
We drove just up the road to one of the slate mines in the area. Once a sort of hub, in fact most roofs in the area are still made of slate, but now most of these mines are no longer in operation. It is not because they are empty but rather because of stricter health and safety codes in place as well as the ability to import slate from Asia at cheaper prices. Slate littered the mountainside just as lava would an active volcano. We climbed up steep inclines that had once been used to cart slate back and forth, but lay inactive since 1953. Over the slate and into a dense damp forest, we came upon our entrance. Ducking into the opening in a gate, we crept into the mine, giving our eyes a moment or two to adjust before switching on our headlamps then marched forward careful not to trip over rail tracks a couple inches deep in water.
We walked a long straight path into the mine before coming to our first bit of the adventure: a boat ride. Yes, an underground boat ride. The mine is apparently multiple levels and when it was in operation, the lowest level was always drained. Now, however, it is not which meant the lowest level flooded into the main level that we were currently on. Our guides showed us, with what we could see using our head lamps, how deep the water was: quite the drop off. So we boarded a small raft boat, grabbed oars and rowed our way across the small "lake."
After a bit more meandering through the mines, we came to our next adventure: zip line. I'll be honest that I was a bit disappointed in the length of the zip line because it was not all that far across to the next ledge, but nevertheless, over water and in a mine was fairly exciting. Some climbing (thankful for our harnesses) brought us to a rock wall about twenty feet up that we traversed across. We didn't have too far to travel, but the drop below from a rock wall with no real foot holes was physically and mentally challenging. Once we reached our destination on the wall, one guide harnessed us in and we repelled down into the great cavern where we stopped for lunch.
One of our guides, a young man from the area has been livng this sort of adventurous lifestyle for quite some time, despite his few years. He and his brother explore caves and help to build adventure courses deep underground. In fact, he and his brother were the builders of the worldest longest underground zip line. I was very impressed and reassured that we were in good hands.
Marching onwards and upwards we walked up to the next level through water steaming down our path. It was actually much less slippery than expected since the water washed away the slippery bit. From here, we were guided to another cavern where we were shown treasures that had been left behind in the mines from years past. Discarded items from miners gave us insight into what their lives may have been like. We switched off our headlamps, learning the difference between what we think is dark outside on a starless night and pitch black under the ground. Our guide lit a candle and had us imagine what it would have been like for the miners who used solely the candles to see in these deep oceans of black.
A couple more challenges awaited us: a climb up a waterfall, some maneuvering through short passage ways and climbing up a steep wall with small staple-like ladder steps before once again breaking out into the daylight. The afternoon adventure was challenging, but much more thrilling than truly difficult.
We celebrated our accomplishments with some delicious ice cream then strolled back toward our home away from home. From here, we decided it wasn't quite dinner time, so we sat by the river that rushed through town, exhausted and mesmerized by the flowing water rushing over rocks, we stayed here for quite some time. Seagulls and a duck puttered about hoping for some chips from passerbys who had just left the fish and chip shop. We watched children climb up and over boulders and throw small stones in the water. The sunshine glittered on the water, still high in the sky on this summer day.
We enjoyed a delicious pub dinner at our B&B/hotel where we once again talked to the barmaid, a lovely young girl who is a teaching assistant at a local school. Her accent, her generosity, her genuine nature and her love for her Welsh culture were a joy to be around. Our adventures in Wales come to a close tomorrow, but we have certainly made the most of them and very much enjoyed them!
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