Llanfendigaid, September, Day 5

Today started wet and miserable with rain and very strong winds, yet again, but gradually began to clear up.  Late morning we all launched off to Machynlleth.  As we passed through Aberdovey we could see that the whole of the pier was closed off for maintence work so I was unable to pay my usual visit to the Time and Tide Bell.  As we neared Machynlleth the fields were flooded after all the rain and the river was incredibly high and, in fact, as we crossed the old road bridge into the town it was barely getting under the bridge's arches. Machynlleth was very quiet.  It should have been market day but stall holders had called it off as high winds were forecast.  We had an excellent lunch in the White Lion and then while the ladies explored fabric shops I enjoyed exploring the fantastic local bookshop.  It was soon time to move on to the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT). CAT was established in an old slate quarry, abandoned in the early 1950s, in 1974 by a group of pioneers wanting to test envronmental technologies and ideas and to help people find more environmentally friendly ways of living.  In 1974 there was no accommodation or gardens and the site had no running water or electricity.  Staff and volunteers re-built many of the old quarry workers cottages and then built new buildings, gardens and ponds, water sewage and energy systems.  Over the years since, they have tested many new technologies and the visitor can see both old and new.  In the next few years, we will all have to make changes to the way we lead our lives, but they can remain healthy, happy, comfortable and connected.  To collectively meet the challenge of climate change we will have to end our reliance on fossil fuels and switch over to smart energy technologies such as renewables, some of which can be seen during a visit. The only way to limit dangerous climate change and damage to nature (this year yet again Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count has recorded a decrease in numbers) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero.  CAT's Zero Carbon Britain research project explores ways in which this could be achieved on a national level.  For more information see www.cat.org.uk/zcb  I thoroughly enjoyed our visit (our 3rd I think) and came away with ideas to make our own lives greener at home.  Anybody visiting this part of Wales would be well-recommended to explore CAT.

During the afternoon the weather gradually improved and on returning to The Cow Shed we were treated to the most amazing sunset over the sea.

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