I got a lift back to Harlech from Dr. Betty Williams who was taking Bill on a mission to inspect some venues with regard to disability access. On the way they stopped to show me a pilgrim church. I passed several churches today which were stopping places for pilgrims going to Bardsey Island from the south. Harlech is a little place with much interest - a castle, nice shops and a beach. The beach is now three quarters of a mile away so the castle is no longer on the coast. I didn't go in but enjoyed the view and a dramatic sculpture close by. I then had a coffee in a splendid bakery where I got pies for lunch and an Eccles cake which has been following me all day. There is lots of evidence of early settlement here which as usual are well above even the old coastline but at Dyffryn there was something special - 2 ancient burial chambers. At Tai-y-bont I went down to walk along the beach for the last 4 miles to Barmouth. It continued to rain very heavily on and off but now I stopped being protective and sheltering and just carried on getting soaked in a gale-force headwind that rendered Brolly unusable. There were several streams that I was able to vault across but one defeated me. This was due to a mechanical digger that was clearing a large channel through the shingle. I approached the digger being operated by Rob on the far bank and asked him where I could cross. He swung the bucket of the digger across to me and told me to sit in it which I did. He then lifted me through the air over to the other bank. It was a most exhilarating experience, a first for me and one which I doubt many people have experienced. I've had a hot bath and a large meal with Bill who is looking after me very well.