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On our way to the West Coast Eisteddfod in L.A. last month Gaabriel and I were amazed to find what appeared to be a large metal Ddraig Goch by the side of I5 in the Siskiyous. We took it as a good omen for the success of the event.
We were not disappointed. The event was indeed a huge success and we determined to take some pics of this strange creature on the return journey.
After consulting Google image search we discovered that the dragon, whose name is Penelope, is the work of Siskiyou based sculptor Ralph Starritt. You can read more about him here:- http://siskiyouartscouncil.org/registry/starritt.htm
Diolch for bringing us luck ( Penelope ) and inspiration ( Ralph ) 
The warden of a unique library in Wales is embarking on a micro tour of the United States.
Peter Francis, warden of Gladstones Library in Hawarden, Flintshire, is visiting Washington DC and Minneapolis in late November to meet the librarys American supporters and host talks on what makes the library so special.
Gladstones Library is Britains only Prime Ministerial library and the national memorial to William Gladstone the only man ever to have served as Great Britains Prime Minister four separate times.
Home to a unique collection of more than 250,000 printed items, around 32,000 of which were donated by the Grand Old Man himself, the library offers a comfortable, sociable and stimulating environment together with resources for creative study including renowned collections of theological, historical, cultural and political materials.
Gladstones Library is the only one of its kind in the world, explained Peter. Its a haven of peace and tranquillity; somewhere you can study, work and relax.
We have a lot of very good Friends in the USA and Im delighted to be able to come over and meet with them and to share our library and its treasures.
The library is housed in a magnificent Grade 1 listed building, first opened to the public in 1902.
Free to use, it is open to the public all year round. As well as the wonderful resource of the Library itself (the collection can be viewed online), visitors can sleep with books, attend and engage in stimulating courses and events and enjoy the Welsh countryside and welcome.
Peter said: We have serviced accommodation, a marvellous caf called Food for Thought and a wide ranging programme of courses and events.
You can learn Welsh, Greek, Latin or Hebrew in a week, listen to thought-provoking speakers like Dr Robin Meyers and Bishop Gene Robinson, or join our nine writers in residence at our literary festivals for readings and workshops throughout 2014.
Following its founder, the library seeks to be a centre of liberal education, thought and values. It is engaged in a project to re-define and re-understand what it means to be liberal (with a small l) in the contemporary world.
For further information, please contact enquiries@gladlib.org / 01244 532350. You can also follow Gladstones Library on Twitter @gladlib, visit the US Friends of Gladstone's Library Facebook page or find more information on the US Friends of Gladstones Library at www.gladstoneslibrary-us.com .
About Gladstones Library
Gladstones library is Britains only Prime Ministerial library, founded by Victorian statesman William Gladstone in 1889. Following his death in 1898, the library also became a national memorial to the four-time Prime Minister.
The library fulfills Gladstones vision of making his personal library, comprising 32,000 books, available to the public. Following his death in 1889, a public appeal to fund a permanent home for the collection raised 9,000, which coupled with an endowment of 40,000 from Gladstone himself, funded the imposing building present today, which opened on October 14 1902. The Gladstone family fulfilled the founders vision by funding the residential wing of the library, which welcomed its first resident on June 29 1906.
Today, Gladstones Library comprises a residential library and meeting place which is dedicated to dialogue, debate and learning for open-minded individuals and groups. In line with Gladstones liberal values, the librarys vast collection of more than 250,000 books and journals focuses on a broad range of literature and culture, with a particular focus on theology and Victorian studies. Gladstones Library also hosts a range of events, from book launches to seminars and courses on matters of cultural significance.
As well as its extensive collection of books, Gladstones library is also a peaceful, relaxing place to stay, with comfortable accommodation and soothing grounds to explore. The library also includes the Food for Thought restaurant, offering relaxed, ethical dining, as well as conference and meeting facilities.
About William Gladstone
Born December 29 1809, William Ewart Gladstone was one of the central political figures of the Victorian era, and the only man to hold the position of Prime Minister for four separate terms (3 December 1868 to 17 February 1874; 23 April 1880 to 9 June 1885; 1 February 1886 to 20 July 1886; 15 August 1982 to 2 March 1984). He was also Britains oldest Prime Minister, resigning from his fourth term in 1894 aged 84-years-old.
( Photos reproduced with permission from the Gladstone Library Pinterest account )
If we want to make a call when we are on the road all we have to do is locate the nearest mobile phone tower on the map, drive to it, park directly underneath and attach the phone to the car battery with jump leads. Works a treat!
Here are some pics of me placing an emergency call on the AmeriCymru mobile somewhere near tower 51.
p.s. we are happy campers with Virgin Mobile
Americymru member Phil Wyman plans to put Wales on the map this year by standing waist deep in the river and praying on March 1st. Such was the practice of St David,, patron Saint of Wales, and March 1st is his Saints Day.
Pastor Phil posted the following appeal in a Forum ( St Davids Day Ideas Forum ) on Americymru a few months ago:-.
" On Saint David's Day, Sunday March 1st, 2009 I am planning on praying like David might have prayed - like the old ascetic Celtic saints - standing waist deep in cold waters. Of course, I am looking for people to join me, and I am hoping to get some media attention. Living in Salem, MA - just north of Boston this should not be difficult in March.
I have a group forming now, and am hoping to get about 10 people to join me. There are other people in other places considering joining the crazy idea. Anyone here want to join the chilly fun? "
Since then plans have matured considerably and there is now an official "Dunkin for David" blog ( which can be foundf HERE ) and a growing list of sponsors and supporters.
We are appealing to all Americymru members to consider joining in or helping to publicise the St David's Day Dunk.
Contact Pastor Phil and /or leave messages of suport via his Americymru page HERE .or by commenting below.
The official "Dunkin for David" ( in PDF format ) flier is attached below. Please feel free to print and distribute:-
Recruiting.pdf
.....apologies for that. BUT you can still check out new content on AmeriCymru 
-
Phil Rowlands:-
When Our Characters Confront Us
Huw Llywelyn Rees:-
8th November
And don't forget the latest addition to the Welsh American Bookstore:-
Of all the great international tries scored by Wales, which is the best?
.
Just a quick note to say that the date has for this years West Coast Eisteddfod changed again to the 13th Oct. Sorry to keep changing things around but this is the final revision.
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD
Can you do us a quick favor and 'like' this page?:-
http://www.storyforgestudios.com/americymru/directory/events
It's the official events page and I will be adding stuff to it for the next few weeks. We hope to keep all the info in one place this time round..
Also, if you have not already done so can you 'like' this page?:-
http://www.facebook.com/westcoasteisteddfod
It's the official Facebook page.
Also if you have a Twitter or Google+ account a quick shout on there wouldn't hurt.
If you are attending please buy tickets early. They are available from the official events page ( linked above ).
Diolch
Ceri/Gaabi
In a new novel by Peter Gordon Williams retells the compelling tale of the warrior prince and his dealings with a host of characters, ranging from his loyal bodyguard Madoc to mad King Charles of France.
The novel relates that Owain Glyn Dŵr was more than just a courageous and resourceful commander – he was an eminent scholar who, in the pursuit of learning and scholarship, looked beyond the boundaries of Wales. He devoted his life to attempting to establish Wales as an independent parliamentary democracy. His strength and sincerity shone forth in an age noted for its cynicism and corruption.
The author Peter Gordon Williams has long been enthralled with the life of Owain Glyn Dŵr and thought him a fascinating subject for a novel. Owain enjoyed many highs and endured many lows in his life and these are recalled in an engrossing and entertaining way by the author.
Peter Gordon Williams was born in Merthyr Tydfil where he attended Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School. He graduated in mathematics from University College of Wales, Swansea and was later awarded an MSc for research. He then served for two years in the RAF before teaching in Further and Higher Education. In 1997 he retired from his post as tutor and counsellor with the Open University. He has already published three novels.
Owain Glyn Dŵr The Last Prince of Wales will be released by Y Lolfa on October the 26th, priced £7.95.
Reproduced with kind permission from Mike Jenkins -Welsh Poet & Author blog
Top of Bald Mt. Photo by Dave Lloyd.
If you go on a trek up Bald Mountain in the Adirondacks National Park, NY State, you have to sign a book to say you've left. I went there with my friend Dave Lloyd and his family but never signed out. I sincerely hope the Rescue Services aren't still looking for my bald pate camouflaged perfectly against the bare rocky surfaces you have to clamber up and slide down.
In some ways, however, I do feel I'm still up there!
I'm drinking in that refreshingly cool breeze like water from a spring and gazing around in amazement at the forests and lakes spread out into the distance : a sense of space without borders.
I haven't come down yet and my dreadful experience at the Stephens & George Charitable Trust so-called ArtsFest in Merthyr only made me mentally want to stay there, eye-flying above those colours of the Fall, so many yellows, reds and browns I couldn't name them.
(The dark forces of anti-literature were out in force when the organiser and her assistant dressed up in black well before Hallowe'en managed to create a non-event I have rarely witnessed before. She was so skilled in the dark arts that she disappeared into thin air just when I was about to give her flak!)
So now I'm seeking the up-currents with the hawks, high over glacier-scooped lakes and ice-smoothed outcrops.
The USA is astonishingly beautiful and also sadly tragic.
For every sun going down over mysterious green water, there is an Arnold; the man we encountered at a bus-stop in downtown Portland.
He gripped a plastic bottle of piss-coloured liquid, occasionally taking a slug.He jabbered incessantly and manically about being in the toilet when somebody broke his arm and how he was determined 'to kill someone'.
Dirty and dishevelled, yet it was his tone which was threatening. His eyes were sunk in two wells, with no ropes to escape only the endless echoes of past voices blaming, cursing, full of hate.
Abandoned by a system which simply didn't bother, like so much of our 'care in the community' over here today.
And for every writer like Dave Lloyd and sculptor like his wife Kim Waale - trying to forge a unique way of expression which does not worship the ego - there is the other side of 'art'. There are those who operate strictly within genres with an eye to film rights, masters of online marketing and self-promotion. At Wordstock Festival we even met a film-maker who was looking for a book with graphic scenes of torture in it.
For every gas-guzzling SUV-owning flag-flaunting citizen, there are sensitive poets like Pat Lawler of Le Moyne College, a writer at the forefront of environmental activism, trying to expose the madness of the rush for shale gas , which will soon hit us here.
It was entirely predictable that the USA's first tentative steps towards a free health care system - at least for the poorest people - should be met with such animosity by Tea Party Republicans.
Any real progress towards a genuine Welfare State seems slow, even as Westminster moves alarmingly in the direction of an American system which fails to support its most vulnerable citizens.
Yet I learned that in Oregon there was a state bank and Portland had an office and cafe for the International Workers of the World (the 'Wobblies'), founded in the States with the objective of abolishing capitalism.
The USA's socialist past is a bit like England's republicanism (with a small 'r') : buried for a reason.
Going there I was supposed to feel more European, to possess an increased solidarity with the Continent and its weight of history.
In fact, I felt just as much (or as little) at home in America as I had in Italy ; perhaps more so, given the language and the over-riding influence of its culture on me for so long.
I kept reflecting back on Cymru and how such a new , ever-changing democracy as ours could be so limited in its powers.
If Obama was incensed by the needless shut-down, then what of our Senedd, at present so burdened by pointless austerity measures which will have a lasting and disastrous affect on so many, from the closure of libraries to the bedroom tax.
The more I became aware that the US Empire with its fracking, excessive capitalism and self-righteous patriotism only represents one side of that country, the more I became convinced of the importance of small and creative nations trying to express themselves in a world which seeks to flatten everything.
Not a Cymru preserved and bottled - as I experienced in the old Welsh community of Remsen in upstate NY, where 'y ddraig goch' was a mere emblem and chapel-going and Cymanfa Ganu still a way of life - not this , but a country modern and out-going , while still respecting its history and traditions.
I am not lost on Bald Mountain, just hovering awhile and when I finally come to ground I will find myself back on the Waun rejoicing the wonders of bracken and heather over those 19th century tips ; celebrating the fact that, at least here, they will never have to quarry for coal, to cut and blast and destroy so much.
BALD MAN ON BALD MOUNTAIN
I will always be there on Bald Mountain,
I never signed out
but no-one will be checking
a wandering, bald Welshman
adopted by brown bears, or eaten by them!
always there in the climb
along the whale-back elephant skin
of smoothed out erratics,
trying for a foot-hold on exposed roots
with forehead veins pumping strain
there in early Fall leaf-cover
in gentle company and reminscences,
dog-walkers exchanging breed conversations,
all the way up to meet the sun
and cooling breeze from the mountains
always a signature yet not missing,
balancing on dry rock ledges
back to a boy on storm beaches,
up to the shaky fire look-out
and forest distance, no walls or fences
there a stranger yet following
together as 'leaf peepers' our senses
knowing brittle colours of another leaving
and the stories of the lakes
deeper than we could dream.
