This morning we slept in a bit. I didn't get up until 7. I'm not usually a morning person, but I haven't wanted to waste a moment of time here in North Wales. Even having morning tea and hearing the sea gulls seemed like an event to be witnessed.
Today we got a bit of a late start as our tickets to Halen Mon were not until 11am. It's about a 40 minute drive along the coast and across the Britannia Bridge on the Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Mon in Welsh). Halen Mon is a sea salt company that takes water from the Menai Strait and through science-y processes makes fantastic sea salt. After a beautiful drive along the coast of the Irish Sea, through a mountain tunnel and, of course, Wales' single track yet 2 way streets, we arrived at Halen Mon. https://www.halenmon.com
I had heard about Halen Mon from a podcast called "Adventures in North Wales" with Megan Llyn. She had done 2 of the things on our itinarary today. Check out the Podcast, I really enjoyed it. I will also listen to it tomorrow and probably shead a tear as we make our way away from Wales.
We were right on time, which by Koog Family standard, we were late. Our car needed gas and we struggled at the Petrol pump. Anyway, we checked in for our tour and sat down. We watched a video, then were escorted through the place to see and hear how the sea water is pumped in, distilled, salt harvested, washed, packaged, and shipped. All very fascinating! Then we headed back to the tour room for a tasting. Now, I'm sure you are thinking, ick...a salt tasting?!? Yes, a salt tasting. We were offered plain table salt, rock salt, European Sea Salt, Halen Mon flakes, Halen Mon flavored salt, Halen Mon Smoked Salt, Halen Mon Salted Caramel Sauce and Halen Mon Gin (Jin Mon made in collaboration with Aber Falls Distillery).
The different varieties of salt and their various flavors were something I had not thought of before this tasting. Truth be told, I'm not much of a salt person. Mrs. Koog often mocks me because I never add salt to a meal after it's cooked. Including eggs. Anyway, we all enjoyed the tasting but I think B-Koog enjoyed it most. In addition to the pinches of salt on a cute little tasting place mat, the gave us little tins for a portable "pinch" of salt. It hold a few grams of salt. He literally ate the entire contents. We refilled it, and he ate it all again!
Halen Mon is the most "edible" salt I've ever tasted. Apparently, their secret is washing the salt in a brine after it's harvested to remove the calcium carbonate. The salt flakes look like shining diamonds in their bags and containers. Please order some Halen Mon salt, you will not be sorry!
We left Halen Mon and headed to Aber Falls Whiskey Distillery for lunch and a tour. After the approximately 20 minute drive, we arrived at the distillery and inquired about at tour. It was about 12:30 when we arrived and the next tour wasn't until 2pm. We decided to forgo the tour and just grab lunch from their cafe and whiskey and Gin from the store. E-Koog was thrilled to finally find a place with Waygu burgers and chowed down. Visit Aber Falls Distillery here https://www.aberfallsdistillery.com or better yet, check out Wills and Rach's video on youtube https://youtu.be/d06dyczIf9I
After lunch we drove the 2 miles to the Aber Falls car park and set out on our hike to the falls. As we got out of the car, even the stream by the lot was impressive. We hiked the nearly 2 miles to the falls. Every time we'd pause to rest or let a family with a pack of dogs and kids pass, we'd take in the 360 degree views of gorgeous landscape. The entire walk was breathtaking.
As we approched the falls, guess what we saw? Sheep! There is just something so gentle and comforting about seeing sheep everywhere. They were in their yard, just grazing and meandering on the mountain. I feel like I want to only wear wool from now on, undies to top coat. Wool.
Anyway, once you get a glimpse of the falls, you want to run and not walk to see more. I didn't run, but I walked faster than my usual saunter. The rocks, the moss, the water, the mist...all of it was just gorgeous. In prep for this trip, I bought lots of camera toys to capture just the right photos of the water coming across the rocks like silk. Mrs. Koog and I carried all my camera crap up this mountain to capture this beautiful landscape. I took all the photos I wanted but came to the realization a 1970's 110 instamatic could take a gorgeous picture of this place. I hope the thousands I've invested in equipment took a more gorgeous-r picture! Or it's all blurred and thank God I had the iPhone for back-up!
We completed our round trip hike and headed to the car and then back to Conwy for a brief rest before dinner.
The boys were in no mood to go into Conwy for dinner. They said since it was our anniversary, we should enjoy dinner together. So we did. We ate at a Tapas place called Midlands in Conwy inside the castle walls. We walked on the Quayside and stopped in front of the "Smallest House in Britian". I could literally hug the building it was so small.
Once we were full we headed to Tesco for some pizza for the kids and some food for the road tomorrow. The day we leave this magical place.
Today we got a bit of a late start as our tickets to Halen Mon were not until 11am. It's about a 40 minute drive along the coast and across the Britannia Bridge on the Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Mon in Welsh). Halen Mon is a sea salt company that takes water from the Menai Strait and through science-y processes makes fantastic sea salt. After a beautiful drive along the coast of the Irish Sea, through a mountain tunnel and, of course, Wales' single track yet 2 way streets, we arrived at Halen Mon. https://www.halenmon.com
I had heard about Halen Mon from a podcast called "Adventures in North Wales" with Megan Llyn. She had done 2 of the things on our itinarary today. Check out the Podcast, I really enjoyed it. I will also listen to it tomorrow and probably shead a tear as we make our way away from Wales.
We were right on time, which by Koog Family standard, we were late. Our car needed gas and we struggled at the Petrol pump. Anyway, we checked in for our tour and sat down. We watched a video, then were escorted through the place to see and hear how the sea water is pumped in, distilled, salt harvested, washed, packaged, and shipped. All very fascinating! Then we headed back to the tour room for a tasting. Now, I'm sure you are thinking, ick...a salt tasting?!? Yes, a salt tasting. We were offered plain table salt, rock salt, European Sea Salt, Halen Mon flakes, Halen Mon flavored salt, Halen Mon Smoked Salt, Halen Mon Salted Caramel Sauce and Halen Mon Gin (Jin Mon made in collaboration with Aber Falls Distillery).
The different varieties of salt and their various flavors were something I had not thought of before this tasting. Truth be told, I'm not much of a salt person. Mrs. Koog often mocks me because I never add salt to a meal after it's cooked. Including eggs. Anyway, we all enjoyed the tasting but I think B-Koog enjoyed it most. In addition to the pinches of salt on a cute little tasting place mat, the gave us little tins for a portable "pinch" of salt. It hold a few grams of salt. He literally ate the entire contents. We refilled it, and he ate it all again!
Halen Mon is the most "edible" salt I've ever tasted. Apparently, their secret is washing the salt in a brine after it's harvested to remove the calcium carbonate. The salt flakes look like shining diamonds in their bags and containers. Please order some Halen Mon salt, you will not be sorry!
We left Halen Mon and headed to Aber Falls Whiskey Distillery for lunch and a tour. After the approximately 20 minute drive, we arrived at the distillery and inquired about at tour. It was about 12:30 when we arrived and the next tour wasn't until 2pm. We decided to forgo the tour and just grab lunch from their cafe and whiskey and Gin from the store. E-Koog was thrilled to finally find a place with Waygu burgers and chowed down. Visit Aber Falls Distillery here https://www.aberfallsdistillery.com or better yet, check out Wills and Rach's video on youtube https://youtu.be/d06dyczIf9I
After lunch we drove the 2 miles to the Aber Falls car park and set out on our hike to the falls. As we got out of the car, even the stream by the lot was impressive. We hiked the nearly 2 miles to the falls. Every time we'd pause to rest or let a family with a pack of dogs and kids pass, we'd take in the 360 degree views of gorgeous landscape. The entire walk was breathtaking.
As we approched the falls, guess what we saw? Sheep! There is just something so gentle and comforting about seeing sheep everywhere. They were in their yard, just grazing and meandering on the mountain. I feel like I want to only wear wool from now on, undies to top coat. Wool.
Anyway, once you get a glimpse of the falls, you want to run and not walk to see more. I didn't run, but I walked faster than my usual saunter. The rocks, the moss, the water, the mist...all of it was just gorgeous. In prep for this trip, I bought lots of camera toys to capture just the right photos of the water coming across the rocks like silk. Mrs. Koog and I carried all my camera crap up this mountain to capture this beautiful landscape. I took all the photos I wanted but came to the realization a 1970's 110 instamatic could take a gorgeous picture of this place. I hope the thousands I've invested in equipment took a more gorgeous-r picture! Or it's all blurred and thank God I had the iPhone for back-up!
We completed our round trip hike and headed to the car and then back to Conwy for a brief rest before dinner.
The boys were in no mood to go into Conwy for dinner. They said since it was our anniversary, we should enjoy dinner together. So we did. We ate at a Tapas place called Midlands in Conwy inside the castle walls. We walked on the Quayside and stopped in front of the "Smallest House in Britian". I could literally hug the building it was so small.
Once we were full we headed to Tesco for some pizza for the kids and some food for the road tomorrow. The day we leave this magical place.
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