Day 8 June 16 – Dale to Sandy Haven
On the trail 7.5 miles (including my diversion!)
Off the trail 2.5 miles
TOTAL 21744 steps 10 miles
Up early to drive to Herbranston, and park by the beach in the free car park. I then had to walk up the hill to catch the Fflesci bus I booked yesterday to take me to Dale. I was there for 9am and the bus came about 9:20am!. On arrival in Dale, there was a convenient café, which served excellent coffee cake! I decided to do an extra bit to contribute to the Dale peninsula walk still to do. This turned out not to be the wisest choice.
I got to my touching post near Dale airfield, did a short section of the coast path, established a further touching point and back into Dale, which all took about an hour!
And then I started the walk for the day, which started with about ¾ of a mile on the road before reaching the Gann, and interesting section of marsh and stony beach and the first of the tidal crossings. It was only after this, that I realised I had made a tactical error because the car was on the other side of the second tidal crossing and that I wasn’t entirely sure of the tide times! Based on what I saw yesterday at Sandy Haven, I guessed I had a couple of hours before there would be a problem but not more than that! This was an unfortunate awakening and I wished I had cracked on with this walk rather than doing the extra bit in Dale!! (and if I missed the crossing point due to the tide it would add a further 2 and a half miles – the coast path walk book particularly did not recommend this!). I had also slightly misjudged the distances involved on this coastal section too! It being further than I had thought. All in all planning not the best!
So I had to keep the pace up on the initial stony beach section and a very overgrown section. It came down to a wall around a bay and I had a brief stop on the path at a bench (which was too high from the ground). I did another couple of miles (which turned out to be quite up and down) and energetic. At least the path was not so overgrown! Eventually I came to a point where there was a path off the coast path. I was now about half an hour from when I was not certain about the tide! This was not good for my nervous system.
I decided to take an inland route a path and the road for speed mainly (as I really didn’t want to do the extra 2 ½ miles if the crossing was underwater). I was also tired and had already done an average days steps. I knew I could do the distance on the road in about 30 minutes (where as the coast path would be slower). It was not ideal but I took the inland cut! Thankfully I arrived with more than enough time to cross the tidal crossing (via my touching point). I returned to the car and had my picnic (using my folding chair) over looking Sandy Haven beach (until it started to rain), before heading to base camp!
Day 9 June 17 Pembroke to Hundleton
On the trail 7,276 steps 3.33 miles
Off the trail 5,924 2.67 miles
TOTAL 13,200 steps, 6 miles
I woke up to heavy rain and achy leg muscles after yesterday’s exertions. I dithered over what to do and eventually settled on driving to Pembroke and doing a circuit including the coast path to Hundleton and back again. Before starting I attempted unsuccessfully to buy postcards so got some envelopes and will improvise! I then had a coffee and some restorative barabrith before making my way back to my touching point from the trail from Pembroke Dock.
I started and it began with a choice of routes around Pembroke castle. There were lots of flags (hopefully marking the King’s official birthday), and I took the outer ring. Then up a side road and up a cut passed the church at Monkton (which was an abbey church due to historic monks!). I walked along the road for about a mile following the trail. I passed some folk keen to give me refreshments – which were really for people doing an ultra marathon! I proceeded to see many runners on the next part of the trail. I also worked out where I could get a bus back into Pembroke if I came back the same way from the far end of Monkton.
The coast past wound down to the edge of the pembroke river estuary (with flood poles) and then up into a series of field with views down to the river and across to the territory I had walked earlier (and particularly last Saturday’s refinery with the scary bridges!). The weather had perked up a bit and I encouraged all the passing runners I met! Eventually after a challenging stile, the path joined a road gently uphill and coming out near Hundleton. I stopped some runners going the wrong way at that point, as I established a touching point (including a running route orange ribbon), before turning off the path into Hundleton.
I was heading for the benches at the centre of the village for lunch, and was contemplating the bus timetable at the bus stop, when the Coastal cruiser stopped on the other side of the road. I had a discussion with the driver (who was eventually going to Pembroke) and hopped on board (as this seemed a good option to get a sense of where this bus goes) and how I might be able to use it. It was also a good option for my achy legs! An hour on the bus followed, which was helpful. The next bit of the trail is going to be challenging with the buses and the distances etc… There is yet another refinery and I may yet have to be creative with my route planning! Certainly don’t want a repeat of yesterday’s debacle!
The Adventures of Alison 