Adventure Togs ..... and all that!

School Holidays Survival

We are barely into the school holidays and I feel my purse is continually churning out the pounds. Within the last week we have eaten out (ashamedly) too many times, have been on a chocolate factory tour, bought a new bookcase for boy 2's bedroom and (last but not least) I have been on a hen weekend!

Our first eating out escapade of the week was combined with a family bike ride to Glyncorrwg Ponds at the Skyline Cafe. If you have never been there, go! It's full of serious bikers with very serious bikes, eating home cooked food covered in mud (the bikers, not the food!). My boys are getting more and more into mountain biking and want to start riding the trails in Afan Forest Park. Until now, we have stuck to the tarmac route through the valley and even last week we had an accident - boy 1 came off my husband's (rather fast) old Kona. "I forgot how fast those tyres were" DH laughed, as I dabbed the cuts and boy 1 fought back the tears.

The Chocolate Factory in Swansea was great. We took a friend with boy 2 and learned all about the growing of coco and how chocolate is made. And the samples ..... mmmm! We had lots of yummy treats and also bought some take home goodies in the factory shop (you just have to).

The bookcase is another story. Somehow, we managed to squeeze it into the car, ripping up the box as we went. I've seen others do this kind of thing at Ikea...squeezing a double mattress into a Mini and such like. And Friday was our turn. The bookcase will be errected this evening and we have a team of volunteers at the ready - the beauty of having boys!

And the hen weekend...well that was fab! My mother (yes my mother) and I shared a sumptuous room at the Hotel Du Vin in Cheltenham, ate and drank, danced til late and laughed a lot. My cousin Amy will be getting married later this month and I am sure she will look amazing.

Now its Monday morning, the rain is back (which means Adventure Togs will be busy) and another week of school holidays begins....

I don’t think I’m adventurous enough

This is a guest post written by Emily, a work at home mum with three children under five. She writes a blog called babyrambles (http://babyrambles.blogspot.com).
 
I’ve been having a read of the Adventure Togs blog and website. And I have to say it makes feel very enthusiastic about getting out and about. My problem is I’m a bit of a fair-weather adventurer. If it’s pouring with rain I tend to stay put.
 
Even though my children love rain and playing in the puddles. They’ve all got waterproofs too so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t go out and enjoy ourselves in the rain as well as in the sun. It’s just a bit… wet.
 
This wasn’t how I was brought up. My parents were big believers that nothing should be cancelled because of rain. We had two week long rainy holidays in places such as the Lake District and Scotland. And we were always out every day, rain or shine (mainly rain).
 
I think it’s an admirable quality to refuse to let weather stop you from doing something. Unless it’s extreme weather I suppose. It’s all too easy to cancel your plans, stay indoors and have your children climbing the walls with boundless energy.
 
So I need to take a lesson from my childhood. I need to make sure we get out whatever the weather. The children always thank you for it and I don’t want them to grow up being wimpish about the rain. Maybe we should get a dog? You have to get out and walk a dog whatever the weather. On second thoughts, three young children and two cats is enough for now.
 
You read it here first: from now on I’m going out in the rain. Luckily we’ve had quite a nice summer so far. But on a rainy day you can just end up in soft play and that really is hellish.

Family Cycling

Just a little plug for a local event which sounds fab for familes. I'm sure the Adventure Family will be there!

To celebrate Bike Week we are holding a Bike Festival, on the 26^th June in Margam Park. There will be activities and stalls throughout the day, so come along at any time to join in:

• Cycle rides for all ages and abilities, plus a goodie bag at the end for all participants
• Picnic in the park
• Childrens bike ramps
• Cycle training skills for all ages and abilities
• Dr Bike- Bike maintainance and servicing
• Led themed walks throughout the day
• Treasure hunt for children  
• Plus much much more.......

Entry and participation in all the activities listed above is free, however there is a £3.50 charge for car parking in Margam Park if you bring a car.

Margam Park is free for people coming on bike,  and you can get to Margam Park on the Sustrans connect2 cycle route.

Gastro Pub, Gastro Grub.

Last Friday we decided to take our 2 boys to visit Dan-yr-Ogof caves. Despite living only 40 minutes away, I had never visited the showcaves and thought our youngsters would enjoy the experience. I remember my brother going on a school trip there and my mother knitting him a new cardi, but somehow I had never made it there.

My husband wanted to try a gastro pub he had read about in a local magazine, the Pen-y-Cae Inn. I wasn't that keen, thinking kids and gastro pubs wouldn't really mix. The map we used sent us way off the beaten track and we arrived at the pub late and harassed. We had an excellent welcome, our youngest saw packs of crisps at the bar and wanted a meal with crisps. Amazingly, they let him order bacon and cheese sandwiches with prawn cocktail crisps without question (gastro or what!).

As we waited, the kids went back and forth into the garden to play on the swings, made guns from the lego in the corner of the bar area (and shot each other!) and we watched as other guests were turned away. One of the chefs was ill with mumps, another member of staff was off for other reasons, another's day off and so on.. We were constantly apologised to and yes we waited a long time, but the food was fantastic. The children were welcomed, the gardens were lovely, plenty of highchairs and huge ice-creams free with the kids menu. We would certainly recommend and return!

Trouble was, we were much later leaving the Pen-y-Cae Inn than planned and we were too late for entry into the caves. Never mind, it gives us a good excuse to go back for another meal.

Walks Nearby: Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons

Nearby Attractions: Craig-Y-Nos, Dan-yr-Ogof

Places to Stay: Craig-Y-Nos, Brecon Cottages

The Outdoors Show

We had a wonderful family day out at The Outdoors Show at the NEC last weekend. Loads of exhibits: Orienteering, mountain biking, high ropes, diving, etc.

My two sons loved the caving experience provided by the British Caving Association. I was a bit concerned when my 5 year old wanted to go in the "cave" alone, but one of the lads from the caving association offered to guide him through. Rhys came out beaming and couldn’t wait to have another go!

The climbing wall was a favorite with Lewys who is 9. He was a little disappointed that he was unable to reach the bell at the top, but nevertheless he made it to the summit!