August 22^nd— a full moon in Aquarius with a perfect sky.

  Taken this morning over the Neath bridge. This will be our second Aquarius full moon of Leo season, an uncommon occurrence. As such, it’s only right that the stars of Aquarius preside over this lunation, since Aquarians are well known for having uncommon and unique affinities. Rare.

Mike Davies  (RDN Photographer)

After many rounds of games on the home green at Resolven and away on many greens there were five rinks of the County Finals at Brynhyfryd BC on 13 August which had members of the Resolven Bowls Club bowling on them. Open Triples (Played at 1p.m.), Double Fours (2 Rinks), Open Fours & Open Singles (Played at 4.30p.m.)

Except for the Double Fours, all the finalists go through to Welsh Championships at Llandrindod Wells next month.

Open Triples (Played at 1p.m.)

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County Double Fours (Played at 4.30 p.m.) Through previous rounds this knock out tournament is played with one rink at home and one rink at the opponents green, with no communication between the two rinks allowed until both have finished their game but on County finals day it is played on rink 1 & 6 of the Brynhyfryd BC green, Neath.

The other finalists were from Tick Tock Community BC, Ystradgynlais.

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County Double Fours Champions – Resolven Bowls Club

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Involved in the Open Fours final were from Lt to Rt: Shaun Kelly, Gareth Evans, Mike Herbert and Nigel James

Although not winning on this occasion they will still be attending the Welsh Championship Finals

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In the WGCBA Semi-Final on Thursday 12 August, Simon Ace (Secretary of Resolven BC) was successful against another RBC member and Welsh Indoor Bowls International, Stephen Allen to play in todays final against Paul Champion of Mount Pleasant BC.

Unfortunately for Simon, Paul was ‘on song’ to take an unexpected lead of 17 shots (18-1), but over two and a half hours and 24 ends on play Simon came back to within one shot (19-18).

After 26 ends Simon succumbed to Paul with a final score of 21-18.

As previously mentioned all the above except the Double Fours will take part in the Welsh Championships at Llandrindod Wells next month (September 2021)

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Report and photographs by Hugh Lewis

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Image by Mike Davies RDN Photographer on 23rd of July

In search of The Stargazing Hare

As a boy I’d always played in the woods behind the school, up the ‘Tump’, over the ‘Lido’, up the ‘Burma’ or over the screens. Never did I venture to the other mountain to see what was going over there, it’s a walk that was inspired by this waterfall that was revealed during the forestry clearance.

I had no intention of being out too long, just a quick track from the side of ‘The Farmers’ and a steep climb to the top of the mountain, see the Roman road then return, easy right?

I found what seemed to be a tramroad and started following it. It runs parallel to the B4242 so I know I’m going the right way. I missed the steep track I wanted, so ended up in Abergarwed on the main road, never mind I’ll go up the forestry road on the other side of the hamlet. As you climb and zig zag with the road there are a few good places to view Resolven, more of the village unfolds as you get higher. I look at the map on my phone and see a trig point up here, it’s not too far I’ll head for that. The road zigzags again and again, I find the track I wanted to climb originally, it’s a swamp and I didn’t bring wellies. I eventually find Sarn Helen, the Roman Road on top of the mountain.

This section runs from Aberdulais to Banwen but there are sections at Ystrafellte and other places I’ve been to. It probably linked the port at Neath to Brecon which was connected to the rest of Wales, most importantly for the Romans was the Gold Mines at Dolaucothi and their baths at Caerleon.

There are a few markers and a sculpture I passed, this one scared me.

Anyway my goal is to find this trig point. Ordnance Survey over 80 years ago placed these pillars all over the country to map it. Each one had a fantastic view and usually marks the highest point on a mountain, each trig point has to be in line of sight with another 3 trig points so our country could be mapped accurately. This trigpoint is a little off the road, it’s in a little clearing and even with GPS it’s a bit tricky to get to. There’s no view from here as the trees all around have grown, still a pleasant place to visit.

Like a numpty I open the wrong map app on my phone and Google, not too far away is a ‘Stargazing Hare’ what on earth is that? “I’d better take a look.”

The path from Sarn Helen to the Crynant side is a bit waterlogged in places, stretches of places that you have to walk on an embankment on the side of the path, “don’t fall in now” is the only thing I keep repeating to myself. I joined another forestry road and that makes walking much easier, I’ve not got too far to go and there’s a row of trees either side of the road, this Hare isn’t going to see much. Then it happens, the trees have been cut, there’s a clear opening and the view is amazing. Looking South you can see Mumbles lighthouse and to the North the bleak beauty of the Black Mountains. What a lucky hare to be looking at this forever! At the moment I could only imagine what the view at night must look like, I think something like this.

After being amazed by the hare, it’s time to return. My phone battery is low, it’s getting dark and I have no idea what road goes where. I walk what I see is the quickest route back, all on forestry roads and end up at Rheola.

This was supposed to be a quick hour stretch, instead it was a five hour expedition, totally worth it for seeing the Stargazing Hare.

Resolven Walkaholic

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On a very warm Sunday afternoon in July (in the middle of a much needed short ‘heatwave’ with temperatures reaching over 30 degrees in some places in Wales) and with the Sun shining through the tall trees of the stunning setting of the Resolven Canal, with the kayaks sailing silently by, making the most of the canal, and the sound of children cooling off with a ‘dip’ in the river which runs nearby, it was also an idyllic location for the ‘Indonesian Architects’ to set up and give us an afternoon of light music, and they were indeed in fine song.

They had learned some new material and sitting in the shade, under the trees, provided a wonderfully cool setting and atmosphere which was a treat for those who were lucky enough to be there.

It was also a delight and an unexpected sight for the people passing while enjoying a Sunday afternoon stroll on the canal towpath which is, of course, a naturally beautiful area at any time of the year but especially during the summer months.

Well done and a big thank you to the Indonesian Architects for a lovely afternoon’s entertainment. 

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A couple more photographs showing the beauty of the Vale of Neath Canal

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Photo’s / text by Hugh & Lorna Lewis