Day 72 – 84 16^th Oct – 27^th Oct

On 16^th October, I drove up to Birmingham with Ronni and Jimmy in the car, and have settled into another base camp (my friend Moyra’s house) where my main activity will be writing and studying with some diversions for shopping, walking, having good coffee and seeing old friends local to this part of the world. The walking round here is surprisingly rural looking! Though it was all a bit of shock when it snowed today when we were out.

Ronni and Jimmy have taken a little while to settle, especially Jimmy who seems to be frightened of pretty much everything and spent much of his first 24 hours here behind the sofa or under the dining table. He has been here before, so this was a slightly extreme reaction! He is much more relaxed now but prone to hiding at any unfamiliar noise. He is not keen on fireworks, which are beginning to feature as bonfire night and Diwali approach!

I have been consolidating my reading on “leading with emotional intelligence” and started to pull together some training material primarily aimed at clergykind. In a more playful and creative mood, I have decided to create this through a master powerpoint, with working through it as and when at your own pace in mind (and probably primarily sharing the material with people via datasticks/CDs). I should be able to use the specific topics in interactive sessions too.  I have found it a bit difficult to distil my studies into applicable chunks, as there is a lot of theory and not enough application (in my opinion). There is much to learn and muse on, and I have found my own reflections on the material really helpful. I have separated out and concentrated on the work of Edwin Friedman on leadership, which though this builds on the family systems theory work of Bowen, has enough wisdom within it to be of value in understanding church leadership without getting overwhelmed in stuff specific to our families of origin.

As I have finished my owl embroidery (but still need to mount it), I have moved into experimenting with beading alongside my current knitting project. Various snowflakes are beginning to emerge and I shall probably use these as examples for the coming craft retreat up in a couple of week’s time.

Day 59-71 3^rd -15^th Oct

A variety of activities have filled the last 10 days or so. I enjoyed my birthday, with a trip into London to see the stage show version of Mamma Mia and caught up with some old friends. I had some annual leave with HF walking holidays in lovely, lovely Shropshire. I spent this last weekend back in Basingstoke, where I was the curate between 2004 and 2007. It was great to share in the celebration for Stephen Leach becoming a Licensed Lay Minister with that church family.  It was also good to see seeds sown in my time, so much a part of Church life, including quality work with children and thriving home groups.

I have also been consolidating my reading on ‘leading with emotional intelligence’, off to my new base for writing the training material tomorrow.

Day 55-58 29th Sept – 2nd Oct

Enjoying some days back home, regrouping before more travelling, studying and no doubt more adventures! I have communed quite a lot with all things domestic and with the washing, and it has been good to resume the role of cat servant to Ronni and Jimmy. (On that front I am very grateful to Rhiannon from South Nutfield Pet sitting who took care of them while I was in Wales).

This Sunday morning, I worshipped at Emmanuel Church in South Croydon and it was good and very helpful to hear the lovely Peter Graystone preach on one of the my favourite passages from Ephesians (2:11-22) (Peter looks after the “Growing in faith and life course” amongst other things for Southwark Diocese, and I tutor on that course (and helped in its inception/design). The worship had a deep sense of God’s Spirit, and I particularly enjoyed singing 10,000 reasons, and King of Kings, Majesty – which seems to always speak profoundly to my heart. Here is Jarrod Cooper talking about it before playing it on Songs of Praise.

^{Ephesians 2: 22} And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. New International Version – UK (NIVUK)

Meanwhile I thought you might enjoy my collection of “dragon of the day’ from my welsh adventures. I was sending them to a friend of mine as I encountered them on my travels. Here’s the whole selection… Not sure why so many of them were outside static caravan parks!

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Day Fifty two to Fifty four (26-28 Sept) Walk Day 24 and 25

Day 52 Llangrannog to Aberporth Walk Day 26 Sept

Phone stats: 19981 steps, 8.44 miles, walking time 3hr 16 minutes

The morning began with a return visit from the heffer!

Unusually this day’s walk started from base camp and had a bus ride in the middle. I walked from base camp out to the coast, and then over the ridge to Llangrannog, where I had finished yesterday. I communed with St Carannog’s statue which looks over the bay. The descent was quite steep, and there was enough time to enjoy a coffee in Llangrannog before getting the Cardi bach bus to Aberporth. Whilst I was enjoying the coffee in the warm sunshine, the peace was somewhat shattered by a school party but it was fun to see the children enjoying the beach.

When I got to Aberporth, I did some sorting out for tomorrow and established an end point for tomorrow’s walk at this splendid dolphin statue touching point, and also to be clear where the bus stops were to get the bus to Gwbert (there was one bus a day so it was important not to mess up!). Eventually I set off proper, round the beach and then on an inclusive access section of coast path – which was fab  and relatively easy going. I was pleased to see this having enjoyed another inclusive action section at Druidston in Pembrokeshire on previous welsh holidays. This included passing some very well placed converted railway carriages, which were being used as holiday lets.

The inclusive access path ended, and more normal path quality resumed. It eventually came out on the beach at Tresarth – I had hoped to have some lunch there – but the café was heaving so I carried on (it was a lovely day and lunch time!). This meant tackling the first big ascent of the day (in the photo below the right hand one of the cliffs – base camp is beyond the horizon on the left hand one of the cliffs). I had a breather and a snack half way up on the edge of the path. The path was very narrow and the edge was close on the ascent – thankfully wider and less exposed on the way down. The views were amazing and it was warm and sunny.

About 3pm I reached the national trust café at Penbryn, following a descent through another wooded valley and had a very welcome welsh cheddar and chutney sandwich. I was a bit concerned about the ascent back up to base camp, but there was no need, as it was more of a farm track than the earlier path. I was soon working my way back, and it was good to see base camp come into view down a hedged track! The heffer had gone!

 

Day 53 Gwbert to Aberporth Sept 27^th  Walk Day 25

Phone stats: 25827 steps, 10.91 miles, walking time 4hr 16 minutes

Another early start, to enable me to get the bus from Aberporth to Gwbert. It was a beautiful morning, and turned out to be the only day I walked entirely in a T-shirt with no fleece or waterproof over the top! After an eventful bus ride (where the driver had to back a long way when we met a huge double tanker on a narrow lane) – I was ready to go from Gwbert at 10:45 – having established a touching point for another day by the entrance to the Cliff Hotel. Gwbert was another of the destinations for childhood holidays in Wales – I did remember this one!

It was about ¾ of a mile of up on the road, and then out to join the coast through fields. The conditions were calm, warm and sunny. Once we reached the coast, I was soon spotting dolphins, and helped another couple of walkers to see the dolphins (one of them had never seen them before in the wild and was very excited). I have seen dolphins in this area of the Ceredigion coast often! The first mile of the coastal section of the path was easy going and then it got much more strenuous, narrow and up and down. The journey was enriched by being able to see the mountains round Cardigan bay, including Yr Wyddfa, clearly in the distance in the clarity of a stunning day.

After about an hour, the magnificent Mwnt came into view. This is one of the most beautiful places I know, and has a special place in my heart. I had an icecream at the National Trust booth, and used the facilities, and then went to the churchyard. This is one of the two places where my dear friend Jane is remembered, and spent some time there. I first came with her to Mwnt during my first year at Theological College in 2003, and a number of times subsequently. It is good to give thanks for how much her friendship enriched my life, and it was important that this was part of my walking journey.

I visited the church of the Holy Cross, and had a chat with a couple about my walk. I realised I was only about 1/3 of the way I needed to travel so I walked on – looking back until the church was no longer visible behind. The going was strenuous, narrow, clinging to the cliffs and lots of ups and downs, and progress was slow. I had lunch about an hour further on and watched the seals swimming in crystal clear blue sea. I am not going to lie this was a challenging walk! And I was on the narrow cliff path from Mwnt heading towards Aberporth for 2 and a half hours. I was very relieved after two false dawns to reach the treelined valley route out. Again another beautiful autumnal colours valley – looking across to the DERA base and firing range on the next ridge. I wondered how it was going to work out as I was the other side of the valley to where I needed to be! But as is the way with these things it did work out, without too much more ascent.

Once I had made my way round the base, it was about a mile of descent back to the front at Aberporth. I touched the glorious dolphin statue touching point to mark the end of my walk. I put my rucksack, boots, poles and stuff in the car, and then went down on the beach and paddled my tired feet in the sea. It was very cold but refreshing.

It had been a fantastic and beyond beautiful final day.

I went home – refuelled and did the maths…. My final totals are a staggering 558,118 steps and 237 miles… Here’s the maps – the first is my whole trip and the second what I have covered this week.

Day 54 Travelling home

After packing up and clearing base camp. I was on the road bright and early, I was keen not to end up on the M25 at the wrong time on a Friday. It was cooler but still bright and sunny. My final glimpses of the Ceredigion coast as I turned east was blessed with a  clear view of the mountains beyond. I thanked God for that, which brought me deep joy.

The journey was uneventful and long! Thoughts turned to when I could continue the journey I have started on the Wales Coast Path – I have only done just over a quarter of it. Maybe I can pick up next September where I left off at Gwbert.

The magnitude of the distance I have walked only really sank in – when I realised my drive home was just 8 miles more than I had walked over the past six weeks! So I was on the M25 approaching Reigate when I got to the 237 mile point… The cats appear to be pleased to see me and are currently staying close.

Day forty nine to fifty one (23-25 Sept) Walk Day 22 and 23

Day 49 Day of rest

Another leisurely Sunday! I went to church in Penbryn, and what was billed as an 11:15 communion, turned out to be a baptism (with a puppet). The fact it was a baptism was obvious as soon as I reached the car park! There were two great bits of scripture read, but very little attempt to explain them. The high point was singing Calon Lan in welsh. I am no welsh speaker (and I am sure I sounded like the policeman in ‘allo ‘allo!) but this is a spiritual experience to sing and I find the ideas behind the words challenging but inspiring. Here’s a link to Katharine Jenkins singing it with the translation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadntTQ0AkA

I went on to a very scenic lunch in a beach hut café in Aberporth, which was served on entirely recyclable containers including wood utensils (similar to lolly sticks). I then retreated to base camp for a session of knitting and watching the new Star Trek series.

Day 50 Aberaeron to New Quay Sept 24^th Walk Day 22

Phone stats: 14500 steps, 7.3 miles, walking time 3hr 1 minute

It was cool but the sunshine was very welcome. I drove to Aberaeron, and was soon on the trail after touching the touching point I established on Saturday morning. The route rose gently out of the town, and in the distance views of the hills and wide expanse of the coastline (and the path I have travelled opened out!). It was distant but by the end of the day I was pretty sure I could see Yr Wydffa, and the outline of the Llein peninsula and Bardsey, opening out the trail I have travelled. Looking forward, New Quay was in view for most of the day, which was encouraging too.

The route got steeper and rose up and down a number of times. It was also quite warm, and my efforts to dress appropriately were not entirely successful (and I ended up carrying a lot of kit!). I had a coffee stop shortly after a very scenic holiday village, and then the route went down virtually to beach level, where a stream cut through a section of zigzag strata. It was then a bit of a struggle back up and then a more gentle climb, before winding down to Llanina and past the inevitable static caravan park. Eventually I reached the beach, and had my lunch sitting on a rock watching the waves (which were very Robinson Crusoe-esq).

The final mile or so around the beach was a delight and I was much reminded of a previous visit to New Quay with Jane and Jasper (a cavalier king Charles dog). We had a short break near Aberaeron on October 2007. It was a significant time in Jane’s first round of cancer treatment, and I distinctly remembered taking the elderly Jasper on to the beach down a slope, and a café with a terrace (both still there). Jane loved this part of Wales, and it is good remembering her and our times together.

I struggled up the hill to connect with the bus back to Aberaeron, using a curry house as the touching post (as that was near to where the coast path will go tomorrow). I waited in the sun for about 20 minutes and then the bus came. It is always very satisfying to see the journey back!

When I got back to the base camp – there was a cow in the garden!

Day 50 New Quay to Llangrannog Sept 25^th Walk Day 24

Phone stats: 26146 steps, 11.04 miles, walking time 4hr 20 minutes

The cow was still in the garden when I left for the day. I drove to the free car park in Llangrannog, and walked down to the bus stop.

Today I was using the Cardi Bach Bus for the first time (which runs twice a day to connect the remote places between Aberteifi and New Quay and to help walkers!) This turned out to be quite a stomach churning experience, as the driver took the bus down some lanes I would have thought twice about driving down… I am not the best bus traveller.

I was back in New Quay by 10:30, and touching the curry house and heading off uphill. The initial ascent was pretty near the edge and up higher than previously! But then the next mile or so out to the coast guard station was reasonably ok. And then….. Up and down precipitous cliff walking. Stunning, scary and exhilarating. Due to the tricky conditions, it took nearly 3 hours to get the 3.5 miles to get to Cwmtydu, with seals and a couple of seal pups on route too. I could see the dolphin watching boats but didn’t see any dolphins myself (I was concentrating on my footing)

There were options on what to do next, and the next bit of the cliff path had a serious health warning, so I took a delightful alternative route inland, clinging to the high edge of a tree filled valley. This first involved climbing out of Cwmtydu, on one of the roads the bus had used earlier! I had lunch at the start of the tree filled valley section. The path finding was a bit challenging, but ordnance survey map app was really helpful along side the Ceridigion council footprint signs. I was conscious that I was also a bit of a spent force (and had already done 9 and a half miles), at the point the inland route was due to rejoin the coast path, I took an ‘unauthorised’ road route back to Llangrannog, which also ended near where the car was parked.

I returned home to find the cow had gone from the garden, and in fact all the cows in the neighbouring field had also been moved too!

Sorry having techy difficulties, so lots of individual pictures…

Day forty six to forty eight (20-22 Sept) Walk Day 21

Day 46 Sept 20 Wet Day!

The weather forecast was awful and it lived up to the yellow weather warning! The winds of storm Ali were replaced by the torrential rain of storm Bronagh. It was a self-evident truth that walking was not a sensible plan. I went for a brief drive over to Fairbourne to enjoy a ride on the steam trains there.

The weather deteriorated whilst I was there, but it did enable me to reflect on how high my climb had been on Monday as the tree line at the top of this photo is where I ended up! The drive back was not very pleasant, so I decided to stay at base camp for the rest of the day.

I did some reading, walk planning and packing towards transit day. I moved the touching point back to the car – the end is in sight. I can see I will have to miss a couple of possible sections of the walk, so I can finish where I had hoped. On Saturday, weather permitting I will walk from Aberaeron to Llanrhystud in whichever direction best suits the wind! Ceredigion here I come!

Day 47 Transit day Sept 21

I was on the road by about 9:30, and then I realised just how wet it was. There was a lot of obvious flooding round the river Dovey! Then the bridge I wanted to use was shut (pont dyfi) – I followed some other cars down a road heading in approximately the right direction, which eventually came out on the road I needed. Satnav was most unimpressed. There were a couple of patches with water on the road, but it was passable with care. Fortunately once I got beyond Machynlleth, the road seemed to establish itself on slightly higher ground which was a relief. I had a break in a very nice café and then went into Aberystwyth to do some food shopping! I made gentle progress and had lunch looking at the beach from the car at Aberaeron. It was very windy still, cool and occasionally wet with heavy showers.

I arrived at my new base camp – which is attached to a farm house, about 40 minutes further on from Aberaeron. It is about 3 miles down some single-track roads with passing places (with mud and sometimes grass growing up the middle). It is in a fantastic position with sea views, near to a path to the coast path (about ½ a mile away). I am slightly concerned that the bed is rather high up, but it has proved to be very comfortable.

Day 48 Aberaeron to Llanrhystud Sept 22^nd Walk Day 21

Phone stats: 22023 steps, 9.3 miles, walking time 3hr 30 minutes

The weather forecast was not exactly good, but it wasn’t anything like as bad as Thursday. I drove to Aberaeron, and I decided to walk from there – I did get an early start, well wrapped up as it was cool, and encased in waterproofs. In the first couple of hours of the walk, there was occasional drizzle. After that the rain was more persistent. (At the start I established a new start touching post as I intend to walk from Aberaeron to New Quay on Monday). Interestingly there are 2 new symbols being used for this part of the walk (I think the Ceredigion coast path is older than the complete Welsh Coast path!)

From virtually the very start when I saw people acting as marshalls, I realised I was walking on part of the route of a bigger event. During the course of my walk, first runners and then a selection of walkers overtook me. After having hardly seen anyone on most of my walking endeavours last week, it was a bit of a surprise to see so many people (about 40 by the end of it!). I was very encouraging as they were doing an impressive challenge from Hydro Dragon Events from New Quay to Aberystwyth – which has to be at least 25 miles probably closer to 30! As I came into LLanrhystud, the race organisers assumed I was one of theirs and offered me refreshments, before the final 10 mile section to Aberystwyth.

The walk was mainly on low cliffs near the beach, I had to take a longish detour into a village, as there was no way to cross one of the gorged streams, this meant I got to visit Llansantffraed church, which had some interesting stained glass. The Abba fan in me – loved their external poster too.

There were 2 tricky sections, early on there was a higher path and the going got a bit slippery on the downward slopes, and then about ½ a mile on stones above a beach near the end – which again were slippery so I took it slowly.

I established a touching point for another time, when I left the coast path, and walked on to the bus stop. I was just getting organised, and hadn’t even got my poles secured to my rucksack when a bus arrived. It was my first transcymru bus, and it took the driver three goes to get me to understand that it was free, which was a surprise! (It was a combination of accents, and me not expecting that answer!). I walked back

Day Forty four and forty five (18-19 Sept) Walk Days 19 and 20

Day 44 Llwyngwril to Tonfanau Sept 18^th Walk Day 19

Phone stats: 17107 steps, 7.23 miles, walking time 2hr 56 minutes

Walking into a high wind!

Began the day with some further joy in yarn bombing at Llwyngwril. I got the train to Llwyngwril, touched my knitted cow touching point, and after contemplating some more knitted and crochet wonders, and a further closed church – I headed steeply up hill.

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The path “zigzagged” up and down the side of this hill for several miles (which was quite strenuous) and my progress was not improved by the wind (and the path was abit indistinct at times – Ordnance survey map app was a real boon to navigation). This turned into a 2 bull day. The first being the most scary. In the following picture, I have added the line of the path in white and the blue arrow points to the beautiful but large black bull in the paddock! He just looked at me thankfully as I passed but it was much too close to comfort to a standing and very much awake bull! The second bull occurred later on and was surrounded by friends and family (and sitting down thankfully).

As well as the wind, it rained repeatedly (and I was glad I had set off in my waterproofs). Eventually after at least 3 ups and downs, the path led up and over the ridge and down into the valley beyond, which did eventually give a bit of rest bite from the wind. I crossed the main road near Rhosfein, and then started a section which skirted on the sheltered side of one hill and then the exposed side of the second hill. The latter turned out to be quite a challenging path about 1/3 of the way up the hill. It was rough going and overgrown in places. I eventually found a spot out of the wind to have some lunch, and watched the train heading back to Aberdovey from my vantage point.

Yet again I looked to be closer to where I wanted to be than I actually was. The track ran up and into a disused quarry and then I got a bit confused as to how to exit the quarry. I worked it out eventually – by this stage the sun was out which was very welcome. I wound down near to Tonfanau station. I needed to decide whether to proceed or have a lengthy wait for the next train. The route on to Towyn would have involved about two and a half miles of walking,  full into the wind across a low marshy area, and I just didn’t feel I could do it in time to reconnect sensibly with the next train (and I was tired from the opposing wind, as I had used a lot of energy to get to this point!). I established a touching point and then I spent 45 minutes at Tonfanau station sitting in the sun and wind, contemplating the meaning of life and watching the world go by….

Day 45 Aberdovey to Tonfanau

Phone stats: 20485 steps, 8.65 miles, walking time 3hr 10  minutes

Even higher wind from Storm Ali!

Decided to walk with the wind at my back so walked the opposite way round to normal (Sea on the left!). This meant driving to Tonfanau – parking the car near the touching point from yesterday and then getting the train back to Aberdovey and setting off from base camp about 10 minutes later (and establishing a starting touching point). As I was about to set off I realised I was going to need to carry a pair of shoes as I hadn’t left any in the car (and I don’t like driving in my hiking boots). oops!

The walk started on the beach and the first mile was about three quarters into the wind which made it very hard going. I tried the shelter of the dunes for a bit but eventually braved the beach, and found it tricky to keep the blowing sand out of my eyes! Eventually as we passed the end of the headland, the direction of travel came more in line with the direction of the wind. It would be fair to say I was significantly wind assisted (and such a contrast to yesterday). I made good progress arriving at Towyn in time for an early lunch (and to miss the worst of the rain). My premise based on o-level geography was the worst of the rain was likely to hit as the clouds and wind hit the hills and it was a narrow passing front, as I was mostly at sea level it wasn’t going to rain for long.

There was a reasonably comical section just before I left the beach to go into the town where I had risen onto a rough promenade. I had an air of Buster Keaton in a wind machine, as I struggled to stay on the path, with my waterproof trousers doing a good impersonations of sails. My walking poles were too light to manage the conditions too.

It was not a good day to explore the delights of Towyn as it turned out to be early closing. I did get in the church for once. Then I realised I had strayed from the path and had to walk back the way I had come through the town – before branching out into the low marshy area behind the beach that I hadn’t fancied full into the wind yesterday.

It was not great as the direction of travel was about 1/3 off the trajectory of the wind, and I couldn’t use my poles as the wind was too strong. The path was indistinct for at least two thirds of this section, so again it was relying on the ordnance survey map app, and it was lumpy, bumpy, damp and squidgy terrain. I was SO glad I had not attempted it into the wind yesterday! I eventually crossed a very splendid pedestrian and cycle bridge and walked up the road to the touching point of yesterday. The car was another 100 yards further on. I was very glad to see it (and to get out off the wind!)

I had hoped that tomorrow I would start to walk from the other side of the Dovey estuary but the weather forecast is dire!!! (I am approximately underneath where Birmingham is written). Looks highly likely that I will be staying in the dry watching the rain at base camp….

Day Forty two and forty three (16-17 Sept) Walk Day 18

Day 42 Day of rest

Very leisurely start to the day and then a five minute walk in the rain to attend St Peter’s Aberdovey for 11:15 for what turned out to be a communion service (almost entirely in English).  There was a priest with a worship leader taking the service, which was good to see. The sermon was based on Mark 8:27-38, and the preacher quoted Bishop Robert Paterson (who I have met) about the way of suffering, God working in power through weakness and the importance of mission. The quote was something like – Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ is for everyone, and ministry is always the servant of mission! He ended with a proverb! – Don’t be afraid of growing slowly, simply be afraid of not growing at all…

Whatever I had clearly shown my true colours and at the door the priest had already worked out I was ordained!!!

After getting a paper, a very gentle day unfolded, the beautifully acted ‘Remains of the day’ and the owls are now sitting on a snowy branch!

Day 43 Morfa Mawdach to Llwyngwril

Phone stats: 20783 steps, 8.8 miles, walking time 3hr 23 minutes

Highest point 912ft!

Up early to drive to the station to catch the train from Llwyngwril back to Morfa Mawdach. Found a convenient car park and a toilet – and encountered lots of interesting knitting on the station! More of that when I walked back into the village later.  A ten minute train ride, and then touching point touched and off I went. The first two miles, were out on a dyke to the beach at Fairbourne, and then back into the village.

After another convenient toilet stop, I headed into Friog and the beginning of the long uphill section began. I have been to Friog before (the first of the May half term Wales holidays when I was a child). Again like Criccieth – it didn’t instantly strike a chord of recognition. There was a lot of slate spoil, and I certainly remember a blue lake in the quarry above the village (which I saw signs too). I carried on ascending at times very steeply! I met a couple en route I had met on the train a few days ago, and we discussed our relative progress!

After about an hour of climbing, I had a coffee break, but the climb continued eventually coming out near a very isolated half derelict farm house where there was me, evidence of forestry, 2 deserted yellow diggers and lots of lots of sheep…. I was in the cloud level and heavy rain persisted for about half an hour! The highest point was 912 feet up! The route across the top was easy going under foot on a tarmac track following the undulating contours. Eventually I came down from the heights, passed a farm with a spectacular view, and the tarmac track gave way to a grassy path. This reminded me of the fabulous paths near Heddon’s gate in North Devon, and Noss Mayo – and the sort Poldark rides his horse on. I eventually found a relatively sheltered rock to sit on for lunch, as by this stage the wind had got up.

Turning the next corner – Llwyngril came into sight, complete with the 2 inevitable static caravan parks. There was a gentle descent down paths with stone wall boundaries – I went a bit wrong about a mile out, and descended a track to give me a longer stretch on the main road through the village. This enabled me to enjoy more of the yarn bombing (they were raising money for their community centre). I was most entertained by this, just up my street, reminding me of the heady days of the knitted house community project in Hilmarton (I contributed a knitted window box for that enterprise). I particularly liked the badger in a red jeep, the monster from Cader Idris, and the bridge troll. I crossed the bridge by the village shop and then used a knitted cow as the touching post for the day. I will finish off the yarn bombing trail when I resume walking tomorrow!

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I drove back to base camp, and as I was walking back from where I have to park the car to the cottage – I noticed the name of one of the local cafes in Aberdovey! Christ Church has a fantastic sunflower cafe every wednesday morning, and it has just celebrated it’s third birthday.

Day thirty seven to forty one (11^th-14^th  Sept) Walk Day 16 and 17

Day 37 Walk Day 16 Harlech to Dyffryn Ardudwy

Phone stats: 27590 steps, 11.7 miles, walking time 4hr 13 minutes

Slightly delayed start, as I waited for the rain to stop. I did sort out my house insurance whilst I was waiting and got a vastly better deal from Ecclesiastical (about a 1/5 of what my previous insurer had wanted after the flood!)

When the rain had stopped, I started the day at Harlech beach car park just down the road from the touching post at the station … So when I come back later I will complete the loop, touch the start point and walk the missing bit of the path. The first mile or so was on Harlech beach and the tide was right in. When I got to the steps I needed to climb, they were still being bashed by the high tide – so I had a coffee so the water could recede abit – which it did and I managed to dodge the waves to get to the bottom of the stairs.

What followed was a stiff climb up to Llanfair and down to Llandanwg. As there was an open café I succumbed to another coffee! At this point I was hoping to have a good look at St Tanwg’s church near the beach – as it is a good example of an early medieval church (and would help my church history class in the new year) but again it was locked. A big loop around the estuary of the river artro followed. More dykes and fast flowing rivers…Made good progress and ended up having lunch on a bench on Llandebr station. Dithered for abit but decided to carry on…

A long section around another aerodrome followed, and then a lonely section across a wet land nature reserve, which turned into a dunes based reserve. There were a few brave souls wild camping and eventually I got back to a magnificent sandy beach, near shell island. I was rewarded for my efforts by the sun shining and views across Snowdonia opening out. I was getting conscious of the times of the trains (which are at 2 hour intervals) so the section across the beach was at a pace.

Morfa Dyffryn includes one of the oldest naturist beaches in the UK, it was first established in the 1930s. I was just reaching the end of that section, when I saw a naturist with his fully clothed companion! Shortly after that, I found the path out through the dunes to Dyffryn Ardudwy station, saw a stoat and caught the train with 3 minutes to spare… I touched the bench on the station but didn’t have time to take a picture (so I did that when I returned on Saturday morning!). I got back to Harlech station, touched the starting touching point then and did a final ½ mile back to the car to complete the section.

In the evening, I marked up my progress on the Wales map – here is a summary of the story so far

Week 1 BLUE (5 walking days) 43.42 miles

Week 2 RED (6 walking days) 55.51 miles

Week 3-4 BLUE (5 walking days) 57.32 miles

TOTAL (16 walking days) 156.25 miles

Day 38-40 Sept 12-14

Took a trip to Sidmouth to do some important stuff with my mum, and then returned to Wales to set up a new based camp at Aberdovey.

Day 41 Walk Day 17 Dyffryn Ardudwy to Morfa Mawddach Sept 15

Phone stats: 14870 steps, 9.23 miles, walking time 3hr 20 minutes

Decided to let the train take the strain as I had done a lot of driving in the last few days. I walked to the station in Aberdovey and got the train just after 9am – it took over an hour to get back to Dyffryn Ardudwy but I was rewarded with fantastic views from the train, which winds around the coast. I missed a heavy shower too. I touched the bench touching post on the station and set off back to the route. I was soon making reasonable progress across a low section and fields. I had been contemplating that I had not had any solitary bull encounters or really difficult stiles, and both of these promptly featured. Fortunately the bull was very sleepy and didn’t get up, and I did negotiate a number of the stiles (the dry stone wall variety of which I am not fond!).

It was a bit of relief to get back to the main road after a particularly awkward dry stone wall stile, I had a breather and a coffee from my flask, and then did the 2 mile section of road. During this the heavens opened, and I got rather wet shortly after I had passed a church in Llanaber, by the time I had got down to the long sea front at Barmouth the rain had stopped. I wound my way into Barmouth, and had lunch in a café – there were lots to choose from!. I decided to cross the bridge for trains, bicycles and pedestrians only to finish the day. I am also not very fond of pier like structures and this was very much one of those with gaps and a mile long. I know it is ridiculous but I don’t like being able to see the water below between the planks!

I touched a touching point where the coast path turns off just before Morfa Mawddach station, and got the train (having a longish chat with a family I had met earlier on the train).

Day thirty five and thirty six (9^th-10^th  Sept) Walk Day 15

Day 35 Day of Rest Sept 9th

Had a leisurely start to the day and walked along to the church in Harlech (St Tanwg’s) (a 10 minute stroll from base camp, and with views of the beach and Harlech castle to enjoy on the way). The service was at 9:30 – it was not clear what it was going to be but it turned out to be bilingual communion, and reminded me quite  a lot of worship at Theological College (which was in Llandaff in Cardiff where we often had bilingual worship). It was from the 2004 book, and I enjoyed immensely that where it was possible Tad Tony signed. It was particularly interesting during the hymns, and I shall be using the sign for alleluia at some point soon! The sermon was very helpful too (and I took the time to say that to Tad Tony afterwards!), and was all about being open and allowing space in the noise and busyness of life… It was about taking time and letting God in…

I had a very leisurely day after that, and I have been finding these Sunday days of rest, particularly refreshing. I read a bit, I did some embroidery, some route planning and watched some telly!

Day 36 Walk Day 15 Porthmadog to Harlech Sept 10th

Phone stats: 32251 steps, 13.6 miles, walking time 4hr 59 minutes

Awake early so took the chance to take an early drive to Porthmadog and was walking by 9:10. I touched the touching point I established at the start of Saturday and set off. It started well with a section next to the steam railway line (to Blaenau Festiniog) and was rewarded with a very close encounter with a passing steam train. Then there was a nature reserve and suggestions of otters, so I was on otter watch after that (no sightings of course!). Then it all got a bit unusual.

I set off on the route round the portmerion estate. It started well, but then I started encountering temporary fencing and the way was guided past a whole load of tents being packed up after the end of the No 6 Festival

https://festivalnumber6.com/music/

Then rows of toilets and showers, and then I started encountering security guards! At one point the path was illuminated – which was very smart! But this was no doubt to help campers back to their tents at night rather than to light the path of coastal path walkers. Shortly after this, when I was very near the heart of it (and the smell of bacon sandwiches was overwhelming) – the signs for the coastal path disappeared. About 20 minutes passed as I wandered about, mystifying security guards and eventually found a lady in the welfare area, who helpfully guided me back to the drive of portmerion, so I could rejoin the path! Taking me through a restricted area to do it. All of this wasted some time, but increased my experience of festivals! There were areas where regimented rows of similar tents were being vacated (no doubt you hired your tent with your ticket) and another area with yurts. I was pleased to see there wasn’t much rubbish around and good recycling bins were available too! All the people leaving caused a bit of traffic issue, and as the next section was along the main road that was not totally great…

After about a mile and a half (and after encounters of the giraffe kind) I had turned off to cross the new bridge at Pont Briwet – I had a quick coffee to admire this feat of engineering and it was very good news (as the coast path walk book had a 9 mile loop to a higher crossing that I could avoid). It was then out, up and around a rocky outcrop and a long section on a dyke above great otter/water fowl country. Saw lots of birds – no otters. There were lots of excellent views across to Portmerion and ahead to Harlech and its castle too!

Eventually came to a section running up and over a couple of small hills, and then running between 2 hills and the coast.  I should have stopped and had lunch at this point, but I carried on and then there were farm tracks, and fields with cows, and an amenity site. It was not so scenic and I ended up having lunch sat on an odd red post, labelled BH24. I encountered on a track like the Canadian road near East Surrey Hospital. At least it was out of the wind. The final section was across fields, and then along the main road. I bought a hot chocolate from the garage as I came into Harlech, and then had a 45 minute wait for the train back to Porthmadog (I had set up a touching point before entering the station). Fortunately there was a section of platform that was covered as this is when is started to rain. I had an interesting discussion with a couple who had been to visit the castle.

Aspects of this day (certainly my encounters with the No 6 festival) were a bit unusual to put it mildly. I have never mystified security guards before by wanting to walk the coast path.