Camped up last night at Glanlerry to avoid a twenty -two/three mile walk today. Weather forecast was not good for today and there were one or two small showers during the night. Just as I was packing up the gear in the tent at 8.00am, it came back again and I had to pack the tent damp.
There was a small river running down the side of the campsite that I was able to follow this morning to take me on to the coast path again. As I set off the heavens opened and I was forced into waterproofs that stayed on for the rest of the day. When it rains there is a risk you go inside yourself and do not pay as much attention as you should. I paid for that by missing a turning and had walked a half mile before I realised. Once back on track I made reasonable progress in the heavy rain, albeit my boots were soon soaked through from the long, thick wet grass. Walking on the edge of Cord Fochno marsh, I did not see another person for about four miles. The wise Welsh were staying at home today.
Exiting the marsh at Tre Taliesin, there was a road walk to the hamlet of Tre'r Ddol where I took refuge from the elements in the community cafe, Cwmni Cletwr. The reception was warm, the good was great and the service quick and efficient. They even offered to dry any wet gear or clothing I had. If you are walking in the area, please give them your support. Services like this are few and far between.
After leaving the cafe, I set off on a long section across country, walking through numerous forests and woods and wading through long grasslands. Things went well until Caerhedyn where, in the rain, I let my attention wander again and turned left instead of right. It was only when I emerged at Dovey Junction I realised my mistake. Going in to reverse, I had to plod back up the steep hill I had just come down, at least a mile in each direction. Once back at Caerhedyn I found the right road and set off on a long, long uphill road walk, before turning on to another cross-country section, another road / track walk to Wylfa, before dropping down in to Machynlleth. The weather finally relented on the last downhill and I was, at last, able to take off the poncho that covered all the other waterproof gear that I had on.
It had had been a long and frustrating day, lengthened by my own stupidity and one in which the camera seldom left the bag. It was with relief that a very tired Vagabond found his accommodation on almost the first row of houses he came to.
There was a small river running down the side of the campsite that I was able to follow this morning to take me on to the coast path again. As I set off the heavens opened and I was forced into waterproofs that stayed on for the rest of the day. When it rains there is a risk you go inside yourself and do not pay as much attention as you should. I paid for that by missing a turning and had walked a half mile before I realised. Once back on track I made reasonable progress in the heavy rain, albeit my boots were soon soaked through from the long, thick wet grass. Walking on the edge of Cord Fochno marsh, I did not see another person for about four miles. The wise Welsh were staying at home today.
Exiting the marsh at Tre Taliesin, there was a road walk to the hamlet of Tre'r Ddol where I took refuge from the elements in the community cafe, Cwmni Cletwr. The reception was warm, the good was great and the service quick and efficient. They even offered to dry any wet gear or clothing I had. If you are walking in the area, please give them your support. Services like this are few and far between.
After leaving the cafe, I set off on a long section across country, walking through numerous forests and woods and wading through long grasslands. Things went well until Caerhedyn where, in the rain, I let my attention wander again and turned left instead of right. It was only when I emerged at Dovey Junction I realised my mistake. Going in to reverse, I had to plod back up the steep hill I had just come down, at least a mile in each direction. Once back at Caerhedyn I found the right road and set off on a long, long uphill road walk, before turning on to another cross-country section, another road / track walk to Wylfa, before dropping down in to Machynlleth. The weather finally relented on the last downhill and I was, at last, able to take off the poncho that covered all the other waterproof gear that I had on.
It had had been a long and frustrating day, lengthened by my own stupidity and one in which the camera seldom left the bag. It was with relief that a very tired Vagabond found his accommodation on almost the first row of houses he came to.