Was dry over night ,as we were under trees we avoided the dreaded drip drip on the tent.
Josh was more zombiefied than normal, where he had been fairly automatic at packing up recently, today he was slow and required constant prompting. I sent him to put a thankyou note in the Grange house door.
We still have to think of summer time when walking the day, so where we started walking around 8.30 , now we walk at 7.30 gmt. It is about max daylight.
We started off ok until we had to walk next to the River Trothy, it was mud city, wading but through mud that had been chewed up by cows , sometimes half way up our shins, pleased we had gaiters on. Needless to say it was some of the most miserable walking I had done and most sustained mud . The mud continued over very wet fields to a bunkbarn at Hendre Farm. We could of done with a stop off there as we need a respite from the tent and a good freshen up of body, we were sweaty, smelly, and generally battle worn.
A great walk through Kings Wood ,mixed deciduous and conifer. The walk was on track and muddy path but what a difference from the rivers of mud. A number of birdwatchers seemed a little perturbed at seeing us and I felt we had threatened their vigil. Apparently crossbills are there however we saw so very little, a treecreeper and great spotted woodpecker everything else was to far away. Due to weight and being keen on birdwatching I have been constantly frustrated at the lack of identification of flitting birds.
Coming out of the wood my we skirted newly ploughed fields. ,passed new build estate ,walking via Watery Lane with a gullied drain running along the road and raised footway. Via suburbia we walked into Monmouth, through the 13th century photogenic gatehouse , a pretty town. Food was a priority. ,and a place to charge phones. Due to limited choice we sat in the main street hogging a bench eating pasties from Greggs before going into Nero cafe for a couple of decent coffees and wifi for J while we charged the phones. I was trying to find a bunkbarn or hostel to stop off at but was disappointedly unsuccessful.
We walked out over the the River Wye , high on caffine ,walking through a village then along Lord Groves woodland. I noticed that St Briavels yha was on route so phoned up but it was only available to groups. When I finish this walk the YHA are going to get slated.
This was the a great section of woodland, also owned by the Woodland Trust, great swaiths along the Wye. Sunlight pierced the canopy giving HD colours on paths ahead.
I wanted to pitch in the wood but Josh was not happy to do so due to lack of water. I thought we had enough, he did not. It caused friction.
At Bigsweir Bridge we had an option to walk the Wye river bank or farmland above. It was a no brainer and we walked the river.
We had thoughts of stopping and asked at a rather grand house and at the Estate Bigsweir House. We knocked at the farmhouse next to the lightless big house. We could see a elderly woman in the kitchen doing her best to ignore our insistent knocking, she eventually and by the look on her face regretfully answered the door. We asked for a pitch but she said her son would not be happy and at least it is not raining. This was the first refusal other than on the Hadrians Wall , again people with money and land.We thanked her and walked on in dimming light along the river bank, as it was an estate land we had to get off it.
In dimming light walked up a track with sign saying Polish Scouts and Knoll Farm.
Light was waning and again it was important that we found a pitch, even if it was illegal.
We knocked on the door, lights were on. A woman came to the door and without hesitation put her wellies on and at speed took us to a spot that was flat, then with the J a water source while I ,in dimming light ,pitched the tent. To cap it we were invited at 7.30 for tea/supper.
In my haste to pitch I lost the pegs and had to improvise using elder stakes. We would have to find the pegs tomorrow morn, but I was annoyed at myself but the tent went up ok.
Jay and I lay in the tent with radio on while I blogged. We were
again relieved to stop and find a decent person to finally ask.
At 7.30 I sent J ahead while I sorted a few things....had a wee! We were both abit ripe but was unavoidable as we had not washed for five days.
We were more than welcomed, and introduced ourselves to Ellen and Richard and their two teenage daughters. The info I am quoting is probably wrong, forgive me.
Both Richard and Ellen have been coming to this area for the last 45 years, they are of Polish blood, and met because of the Polish Scouts. Their parents had come here as exiles during the war. I will research it further when I finish the walk. It was a relaxed meal with wine, game stew which was excellent, followed by crumble. All in all a rare treat and felt privileged to have met such warm folk. If Ellen and Richard are reading this please email me as I have accidently thrown your details away- trail1965@gmail.com. , and thank you.
We returned to the tent around 10 and with full bellies slept well.
I felt I was dominating the conversation over J , I must learn to give way.
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