Arrived at the religious sounding Joys Of Life Country Park with a sense of foreboding in the pouring rain. A tortuous drive through the soggy, wooded valleys of N. Wales heightened the feeling. Think of the film 'Deliverance' in the Appalachian Mountains then transfer to Wales. Surreal happenings continued when we were confronted by a teenage orthodox Jewish teenager who couldn't speak English. Fortunately, the proprietor Mrs. Evans arrived home just in time and was able to sort us out with a pitch. Apparently, the Jewish boy was part of a group staying at the site's b&b facility. A pleasant walk through woods takes one to Bethesda's main street and a bus stop where frequent buses depart to Bangor. What can I say about Bethesda? Scattered amongst this beautiful wooded land are the worst examples of dreary 'council' houses that you'll see in any rural location. Afternoon entertainment in Bethesda consists of watching drunks cavorting on benches next to the Spar shop while local schoolchildren watch on. Mrs. Evans told me with despair that none of Bethesda's five pubs serve food. As an example of the area's inward looking mentality, neighbours still call each other, say, Jones the Traitor or Evans the Traitor in respect of forbears who broke a strike 150 years ago at the nearby slate quarry, now home to the northern hemisphere's longest zipwire. Nevertheless and thanks to the great bus service it's easy to visit other parts of N. Wales such as Bangor and onwards.