Don't go to Bala tonight mister...

[andygosmore]

I'm pretty sure that's the book I read it in - I recognise the cover illustration.

Even now, 30+ years later - perhaps nearer 40(!) - a've brooned ma breeks!

I’m halfway through re-reading it. I still remember how frightened I was of the illustrations. I think I’ll give it to my 11-year-old to take to bed!
I found it on eBay for £3.

 

[Spymaster]

strange thread title i know...

anyway, years and years ago i read a ghost story containing the above line - all standard stuff, nightime drive through North Wales, picks up a young hitchiker, weathers crap, hitchhikers tells him not to go onto his destination tonight - Bala - driver falls asleep at the wheel for a second or so, scares himself witless and lo! the hitchiker has disapeared. bloke has the collywobbles, stops at the next town (might have been Corwen..) and books himself into the hotel.

the inevitable happens, he's chatting in the bar and mentions the hitchiker and the place goes quiet. turns out the hitchiker is the spitting image of a local boy who was killed in an RTA years ago - at which point someone walks in to say that the road to Bala has been closed by a massive landslide. dun dun deeeeerrrr...

i've tried a search for the story (i'm adamant that that very line is used), but my googlefu is obviously a bit shit - does it ring any bells for anyone?

In the version of this going round when we were kids, the hitch-hiker had an Irish accent and kindly told the driver to "stay away from Guildford tonight" on the night of the pub bombings.

 

[StoneRoad]

Bala's a bit on the weird side, anyway ... says a regular(ish) visitor. Just don't speak scouse ...

Whether you go straight on through the place or turn west and head for North Wales.

Nice Chippy & a couple of good pubs in the main street.


Went over the pass towards TLC of Wales, many many times.
Even in some pretty appalling weather conditions.
One Friday night, the weather was getting decidedly wintery as we crossed over to Trawswynedd.
We got through OK and went to kip, someone else arrived a couple of hours later, having skidded off the road a couple of times. A third driver managed to roll a fairly expensive volvo at more or less the same spot, luckily for him, one of the local farmers either saw or heard the prang and pulled the ovlov back onto the road, his son then brought the driver across.

 

[fishfinger]

I stayed in Bala for a week, in the early '80s. Spent most evenings laying on the shore of the lake, watching the Perseids.