Another 7am alarm call as our train from Euston was 10.02am. In the event we were sat waiting ages before the platform announcement which only came ten minutes before departure. Then it was platform 2 at the far end of the station and our carriage at the far end of the train. So after arriving so early, so early we had been able to buy our picnic lunch and a paper, there we were panting along with only about four minutes to spare!

But our booked seats were fine and we had the benefit of a table. Although a gloomy start the sun broke through somewhere north of Watford. I swayed down the carriages for coffees and it all felt very civilised.

But not after the change at Chester. A friend was jealous as she loves Chester but all we saw was a scruffy and crowded platform confusingly called 3a and 3b. Again we needed to push our way through to the far end for 3b. The next train in went out again back the way it had come, very confusing. Ominously, our ticket for this part of the journey said sit where you like which in reality translated as sit where you can! Only two carriages bursting at the seams arrived for us. I shepherded himself in front of me, stick to the fore, and into a single available seat and then retrieved our cases ignoring the tutting of a young woman. I wanted to hiss you may be old one day too if you’re lucky!

Fortunately there was a nearby seat for me too and as we approached the North Wales coast the train began to empty. Just before Prestatyn I spotted the sea and the holiday chalets began to appear either side of the tracks.

Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and finally, Bangor, saw the train empty. By now the sky was blue and the Menai strait looked beautiful now the sun was in control lighting up the mountains that came closer now.

On Anglesey the train began to make unannounced stops at tiny stations with low stone buildings and the scenery was lovely. Lots of sheep!

Then we rolled onto Holyhead. The ticket inspector had told us the ferry terminal was at the end of the platform and it was. Very modern, very big, very empty! We had a three hour wait before our ferry left but there was a shop/cafe with hot drinks and comfy chairs so between coffees and strolls outside above the peaceful harbour on a Celtic gateway bridge, as it calls itself, we whiled away the time.

More later …