Sunny day in Rhoscolyn

A bit later in the academic year than normal these were getting ready to do our annual Rhoscolyn day in the field. We had had to cancel one trip for reasons of bad weather, which had shifted this trip into the second semester. It initially looked like we would not go for reasons of strikes, but these were postponed due to promising negotiations. So we went! And we couldn't have had a better day for it.

We gathered in Bangor and drove up. Jaco and Dei did their intro in sunshine and barely any wind! And then we could go down the steps to South Stack proper for a good look at the beautiful turbidites. And later we had another even closer look just beyond the gate.

Intro spiel

Going down towards the lighthouse 

I could do with a convenience break by then, and I figured I wouldn't be the only one. I suggested I scout out the environment for alfresco options. It was not a success! There is no shelter and there are a lot of people. So mission aborted. But when I came back, Dei’s vehicle was full and Jaco had already left. Great! But Jaco wasn't far; he had only gone on to the café, where there is a real toilet. And there I could claim a seat in a vehicle again.

The next stop was Porth Dafarch, where there are more turbidites to be found on the beach. But it was high water! We should have been prepared for that of course. But one thing we were prepared for was lunch. We ate that, and then just went to Rhoscolyn. Depending on time we would decide whether we would do the beach last, or skip it all together.

Porth Dafarch

Rhoscolyn church

In Rhoscolyn, we basically stared at it even more turbidites. But how magnificent they are! And the cliff face was even festooned with amazing shags. I had never seen them that clearly. I am sure they were shags, and not cormorants, as in Dutch, shags are "quiff cormorants", and these birds has amazing quiffs. 

The rock forming roches moutonnees, with the mainland in the background 

Dei talking geology 

Towards the cliff with the shags

Beautiful deformation 

Shags!

The last stopping point was a cliff with an amazing cross-section of a channel fill. We had a good look at it, and asked the students to sketch it, and then we discussed it. And then we took the scenic walk back to the vehicles! We decided to not go back to the beach. We wouldn't really have time. And we figured we had probably already shown the students as many turbidites as they are comfortable with only one day! 

Sketching the channel fill 

Colourful beach

The White Arch