Friday 7th June. Travelled towards Llanidloes via a craft centre and watched glass blowing woodworking candlestick making and the gin processing. Raining all day so not bad as we were driving.
Arrived at the location of the festival where our friend Sam is playing tonight. The ground is looking very wet but hasn’t put off all the bikers off. Not looking forward to putting the tent up tonight! Drove into the town and had a few beers in The Red Lion and waited for the others to arrive.
Sam helping Nick put up his tent. Sam is going to sleep in his car!
This guy was taking adults around in this and tipping it on its side while going very fast! Plenty of mud food and beer.
The Ouse Valley Singles Club (Sam is on the washboard). They had driven all the way from Bedford for this one night performance. They were great.
First time in our new tent and it’s still raining. David wouldn’t have noticed as he fell in the tent at 3am!!!
By the time we packed the tent away and drove to Pontypool the sun was out again.
On the spur of the moment we decided to leave the car and walk The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal Path. 35 miles. We started at about 4pm and very tired still from last night.
Beautiful path but hard under foot as this is the first time we’ve had our full packs on.
Walked off the path for dinner in The Horseshoe Inn (pulled pork in cider and cloves with fresh veg and new potatoes) was yum. Got chatting to a couple - his brother lived in Mindarie and she used to live in Padbury! Small world.
The pub let us put our tent up in their overflow car park.
Got into the tent when the sun was still up and were both asleep by 8.30pm!
What a mess our tent is in!
It rained all night but both slept well. Ponchos came in handy for packing away.
Iris’s all along the canal path.
Had a very long walk today and then even further to walk to get an evening meal.
Turned out to be a lovely evening walking back to the canal path.
Can you see the tent? Just over 119 bridge off the canal path. It was on a bit of a slope and some rocks so wasn’t a comfy night!
Nearly there.
Stopped and chatted to Bill the volunteer lock keeper.
Watched this barge going through the lock. 2 couples were from Canada on holiday.
What a feat of engineering this was.
This house had its own bridge.
Walked all day again and thankfully the rain held off until we got the tent up on a lovely campsite in Pencelli £25pn. We had lovely hot showers-first in 4 days!!!!!!! We also got all out clothes washed and dry in the laundry. Happy Days.
Heavy rain all night and the forecast was for all day. So we decided to miss the last 4 miles to Brecon (we had seen it last week anyway). So caught a bus to Abergavenny then another to Pontypool back to our car.
We then drove to Chepstow and booked into The George Hotel for a rest and a comfy bed to plan our Offas Dyke walk as it starts from here. Great hotel and people £55pn inc breakfast. Hung the tent over the bath in our room to dry out! Great pub meal and a few beers followed by an early night.
Had a wonder around Chepstow. We are very impressed with it and lots of history.
David is standing outside the house that Oliver Cromwell stayed in after taking the castle in 1648.
The Town Gate built in the late 13th century. Our hotel The George for 3 nights as looking at the weather forecast there is no point in starting our walk yet. 🌧
The very impressive Chepstow Castle that is the oldest stone castle in the UK dating back to William the Conqueror.
The wine cellar which would have been filled with wine from France and local ales.
These are believed to be the oldest castle doors in Europe. Couldn’t believe you could just go up and touch them!
The castle is right on the cliffs of the river Wye and over the bridge on the left you are in Gloustershire England!
Could not believe some of these arches still had some of the original plaster and colouring on them -all exposed to the elements. This picture really doesn’t show the enormity of it.
Me and Welsh Roanne - the partner of the pubs owner. So friendly and helpful and funny.
Went shopping at Tesco getting supplies for the morning. Offas Dyke here we come 🥾🥾😳
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