shropshire 0 #26 June 16, 2009 Thanks John. We think (she's a rescue) that she's about 8 years old. She's a very active dog and, although she is well behaved, I did not know how she would react to travelling on public transport ... but she did me proud - she just laid down and kept out of peoples way. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #27 June 16, 2009 Day 2 started early (again) with warm sunlight pouring through the walls of our tent and the morning chorus of bird song. I fed Millie and poured some coffee down my neck before washing and breaking down our small woodland camp. We started walking just after 7, with Millie bounding up the hill back to the foot path on the Dyke. This was a relatively short and easy day of 9.2 miles (averaging 2.4 m.p.h) through forest path and then following the river Wye to our 2nd camp, in Monmouth town campsite - chance for a shower and to check Millies pads (she's holding up fine and still has way too much energy). Monmouth is a really pretty little town with a lot of old architecure. The Monnow bridge (pictured) is said to be the last reamaining medieval fortified bridge in Great Britain. It was builit in the 13th century for defense and toll collection. GPS says that we have now completed 22.5 miles since the start of the hike. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #28 June 16, 2009 ..... couple more (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #29 June 16, 2009 nice pics tony, one would expect to see some weird dude in stockings pop up every now and then.. “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #30 June 16, 2009 No sun light filtering through 'canvas' this morning and no bird song either, just the sound of rain beating downWe both got up, breakfasted and then set off without any great emphusiasm in the wet early morning. Todays path, towards Pandy would be over gentle rolling countryside and a few climbs to get us ready for the Black Mountains tomorrow (maybe) ...... but the rain just got worse and worse. I was wrapped up fine but Millie looked bedraggled and so I decided to call it a day, found a bus stop and took a lift to the train station and back to Shrewsbury for the night.... Let's see what the weather has in store for us over the next couple of days.. It turns out that the weather was really bad, with Mountain Rescue teams pulling Fell Runners of the North Wales mountains... so for us not to tackle the Black Mountains seemed really sensible to me.... I'll get back later in the trip (?). We walked for 10 miles in total today but I'll not count it as I back tracked to get to civilisation. So our milage claim remains the same. No photos today - didn't want to ruin the camera. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #31 June 16, 2009 I took the (wet) Sunday off and took the opportunity to launder and DRY OUT!! all of my gear and re-prrof my boots. I also decided to send Millie home with the wife ... I'd miss her company on the hike but the forecast was for (a lot) more rain over the coming week or so and I couldn't stand for her to be wet and uncomfortableMonday : It was a grey but dry day. I went to Kington and walked the 16 country miles to Knighton over loverly green scenery. Today I had some great views of the old Dyke.... It's not very high in this area but it's very prominant. We are very privileged in the U.K. We have a large number of public footpaths that are very well maintained and si 5a8 gnposted. At Knighton, I visted the Offa's Dyke visitors centre, that has a great presentation and loads of information about the Earthwork and archiology (Well worth a visit). (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #32 June 16, 2009 ...... (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #33 June 16, 2009 Tuesday Another great (dry) day. I walked from Knighton towards Newcastle-in-Clun over some steep (!) rolling landscape. I reached my planned camp site early in the afternoon, so stopped and rested for the rest of the day. Todays total was 7.4 at an average of 2.4 m.p.h I crossed paths with a couple of blokes that were in the process of walking from John-o-Groats to Landsend (the length of the U.K mainland) and anticipated taking about 9 weeks .... puts my little walk into perspective!! (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #34 June 16, 2009 ..... more (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #35 June 16, 2009 Well in Tony 1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #36 June 16, 2009 Aye up lad - how's it going? (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #37 June 16, 2009 Same old, nothing quite as epic as your dog walk Keep the pics coming, last time i seen Wales was too long ago! 1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #38 June 16, 2009 Wednesday More border hoping .... England to Wales and back. The countryside is beautiful, I came across this wonderfull little church, in the middle of no where (not near a village .. strange) but really well kept & tidy. The day started dry but in the afternoon, thunderstorms poped off all around me (but I remained dry untill 4 O'clock, when the heavens opened on me ..... big time. So I detoured into Montgomery but couldn't get into the hotel (scum bags said that they were full - I'll bet. I walked back to the path and wildcamped at the top of a hill... I couldn't see very much but found a sheltered spot and bedded down for the night. (at grid ref SJ22989 00050) It turned out to be a long day 15.5 miles at an average of 2.4 m.p.h. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #39 June 16, 2009 Thursday Wow .... wahat a view to wake up to and what a difference. The sun was coming up to blues skies and warm too. I breakfasted at 06:00 and had cleared away my camp and hit the path bt 07:30. The ground was very wet and my boots soaked but it felt GOOOOOD to be walkin in the early morning sun before most people were up and ready for work. I was really getting into my stride now and the routine of getting up, eating, washing and striking camp was become.... well, adictive (sort of). After initiall walking down across fields, my route took me along a road for a while before spending most of the day on a canal towpath .... easy, fast walking. I detoured into Welshpool town for some rations and later found a great Cafe in a church near the canal but actually made really good time today .... I saw lots of great wildlife today, lots of families of swans, I think that I saw Red Kites and came across a working cart horse, pulling a canal barge..... amazing. 17.6 miles at an average of 2.9 m.p.h (my pack must be getting lighter or I'm eventually getting fitter). I camped in the grounds of a pub (Golden Lion) in Llandysilon. and enjoyed some great company and a few (cough) pints. Best day yet. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverbry 0 #40 June 16, 2009 looks like a great time there!!!Bry -------------------------------------------------- Growing old is mandatory.Growing up is optional!! D.S.#13(Dudeist Skdiver) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #41 June 16, 2009 ..... more (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #42 June 16, 2009 Friday Woke up a little later this morning (07:00) with a bit of a beer head ... But the sun was up and warm, so after breaky, I headed back out onto the tow path of the Montgomery Canal ..... but the flat wont last for long... just a few miles down the path is a big climb to above the Llanymynech quarries and then big rolling hills to Oswestry.... Just as I arrived at the end of my path on the canal, I received a phone call about a job and a possible interview early next week..... buggger!!... I want to continue but need to get a job.... What to do?... I thought about it on and off for the rest of the day and decided to complete the day in Oswestry and come home ..... Hey, tha Dyke isn't going anywhere fast (actually it is eroding but will last a bit longer for me, I'm sure....). When I arrived at the start of the big climb at Llanymynech I was very pleasantly surprised that I had a lot less difficulty climbing than I had earlier in the walk .... I'm getting fitter for sureSo, I diverted off the track at the Oswestry (went past the Offa's Dyker brewery .... actually picked up a couple of bottles of their beer .... yum .... yum) and took a bus back to Shrewsbury, a little down hearted but promissing myself that I will complete the trip this year. 11.8 miles at an average of 2.7 m.p.h .... another good and strong day. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #43 June 16, 2009 Looks like a wonderful time. Sorry Millie wasn't able to join you for the whole thing."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #44 June 16, 2009 Thanks, it has been. Hopefully Millie will be joining me when I go back to complete some more sections. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guppie01 0 #45 June 16, 2009 Wow! What an incredible journey. Thanks for sharing! g"Let's do something romantic this Saturday... how bout we bust out the restraints?" Raddest Ho this side of Jersey #1 - MISS YOU OMG, is she okay? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 221 #46 June 16, 2009 Quote Thanks, it has been. Hopefully Millie will be joining me when I go back to complete some more sections. So are you walking the dyke now or not? I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #47 June 16, 2009 QuoteI was really getting into my stride now and the routine of getting up, eating, washing and striking camp was become.... well, adictive (sort of). I so know that feeling... Thanks for posting your pics and journal. Another addition to my places-I-want-to-hike list, for sure! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #48 June 17, 2009 Quote Same old, nothing quite as epic as your dog walk Keep the pics coming, last time i seen Wales was too long ago! For me as well. Although it was not quite fun back then. I did the Beacons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #49 June 17, 2009 QuoteGood luck mate, how about posting some of the way points as I'm shure loads of us have google earth. Here y'go matey ..... (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
