I have been unable to write for some time and need to catch up:
Day 23 Monmouth to Pandy: Having plied me with two cans of Guiness the previous night my two friendly neighbours Caroline and Sid, saw me on my way with a cup of coffee.
Leaving Monmouth I soon started to climb through delightful deciduous woodland King’s Wood. For an hour it was so peaceful with the smell of trees and the chatter of birds. At the top there was a murky view of the Black Mountains -the following day’s journey.
The rest of the route was across farmland. Pleasant but challenging for me as I discovered two more blisters and the muscle along the shin of one leg was becoming painful (I monitor my feet and legs closely!). My discomfort was consolidated by finding the pub in one village was now a private house, and in the other it was closed. No sit down and a pot of tea.
I did meet a fine herd of cows. Impressive horns but my friend Barbara would not have been happy to meet them.
The campsite at Pandy was exactly what I needed, hot showers, a level site , and behind a pub.
There I met my second visitors, Hayley and Cole. Fresh milk more teabags and a top up of my whisky courtesy of Stella. What a delight to have a relaxing evening amongst friends.
Day 24 Pandy to Hay on Wye
What contrast, I did not see the sun the previous day but this was a real sunny day. The price paid was a cold night. I had to scrape ice off the inside of the flysheet before packing the tent away.
A small price to pay though for a splendid day along the ridge to Hay (shin no longer a problem, one blister improving) . Tiring but very satisfying. I chatted briefly with a young woman, Becks, met her again as we descended into Hay, and met her and her step mum, Mary, the following day when they plied me with tea and conversation.
In Hay I had more visitors-Mary, Tor, Zara, and Grorgie. The last two impressed me by picking up my rucsack even though it was bigger than them. Then they helped set up the tent and filled water bottles for me. We had a lovely meal and they left me with more fresh milk.
It was a delightful visit. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Day 25 Hay on Wye to Kington:
Another fine day, starting along the river and then climbing up through more lovely woodland and across farmland. Passed through a field with particularly large lambs the ewes had plenty of milk, they waddled around with their rear legs held apart.
At Newchurch I went into the village church and there was a table with tea coffee fresh milk and a kettle -just help yourself and leave a donation. Just what I needed as there were no further sources of tea that day. (the origins of this dates from when Charles ll asked for refreshment at the village before a particular battle and was given a jug of milk.)
Hergest Ridge
gave splendid walking on fine springy turf.
Camped on Fleece Meadow in Kington enabling me to buy a big bag of food to eat that evening.
Will describe Day 26 in the next blog.
