A Home for a Hedgehog

Day 18 Walking

Llanymynech to Craignant to Glyn Ceiriog

12 miles

7 hours 

Bradford Arms in Llanymynech where last night was spent. 

Charles Darwin was here in 1831

Watched part of "The Quartet" last night.  Good film about the aging process. Centered around a retirement home for musicians.  Maggie Smith played the part of a retired opera singer.  The first time I became aware of her as an actor was in London in '84, and she was performing in a play that we had gone to see as part of the Theater Class. The play was moving along nicely and when Maggie Smith walked on stage everyone began clapping.  I, in my ignorance, and arrogance, thought it was so rude of everyone to interrupt the play.  Since then this silly person has learned what a great actress Maggie Smith is, and wish I could go back to that performance and watch her perform live, and join the applause. 

Growth on a pine type tree

The village of Llanymynech in the middle distance, last night's home. 

Monarch of the Glen was on TV this morning.  Everything on the show looks exactly like typical daily life here.  Same kind of clothing, same vehicles (Range Rovers, Land Rovers, and lots of Fords).

Another muddy day in Wales!

Must have left the ziplock bag with bandaids back at the The Farm in Welshpool.

They might save the bag until my return (a long time for now) or they might not. Still have a few bandaids that had been kept in another bag, and of course the new British blister "plasters" Compeed. 

And, just about left yesterday's undies in the shower where they were drying.  I would like to lighten my load, but some items are necessary. 

Tamar Valley Light Railway 

The path was narrow here and the poles were used to push the flowers out of Lois' way. 

The CamelBak has developed a leak.  Finally found the source of two Itty Bitty holes.  Dried the bladder off and put medical tape over the holes.  It had better work!

Real signs finally.  Welcome to Wales.  Welcome to England.  Kind of like Welcome to Wisconsin and Welcome to Illinois ( those Illinois drivers!!)

And across the narrow road

Limestone quarry reminds me of being on the west side of Rib Mountain only there it was Quartz and here there are no vultures. 

Not necessarily teenagers who have altered or removed the sign posts showing the path, could be unhappy landowners. 

Always it is necessary to check the symbol for the particular path you are following. And which way your arrow is pointing. 

Sheep dropping in second step of stile. One must have been trying to escape.

On top of Baker's Hill the view was 360 degrees.  Amazing, but cold, windy, and hazy/rainy off in the distance. 

Mid morning FOUND the bandaids in with the cookies in the "cookie canister", top pouch of the pack, right above my head. Felt like I had been reunited with old friends. 

 Garage with a low roof and no door. 

I am MUCH larger than the horse. 

What a good a scout Lois was today.  Followed the exact path, didn't go astray, used every kissing gate, opened and closed all farm fences, crossed with a "T" multitudes of stiles, no it was with a leg they were crossed. 

The young girl was definitely on a male horse! The longer we chatted the more visible it became. (No photo of that). 

Under the Yew trees nothing grows in the woods. 

Am convinced I have seen the same man 4-5 times.  Or else his identical cloned relatives.  The dogs might be different. There might be many miles between, but there is a strong resemblance between the Welsh. 

A Wisconsin Cow. 

This morning sent an email to my host for tonight saying that I would be at a certain parking area by 4 pm. Began to wonder through the afternoon as I became tired if I would make it there by that time. Stopped checking the time on the phone because the battery was low. Hadn't checked the map recently so was very surprised to come down a steep path towards a road where I intended to pull out the map and get oriented. At that moment a car pulled over, the window came down, lady asked "are you Lois?"  

My hosts Riv Carter and Diane had arrived a half hour early, and there I was coming down early.  Hop in their Land Rover for the drive to their home about 10 minutes away.  The house is up a STEEP driveway and Riv backed the vehicle up so the next time he can go forward. Apparently whether he backs up or goes up forward depends on which direction he goes at the bottom of the driveway as it is too tight of an angle to turn, and there is a curve in the one lane road that makes it more challenging. 

Entrance to Fron Frys where tonight's bed is. 

This is copied from a photo of what the place looked like originally when Riv bought it - a derelict barn which was totally converted.

Riv Carter the host

View from the sunroom/solarium 

Sheep wool keeping the plant/tree warm and retaining moisture. 

But......IT IS FREEZING IN THE STONE HOUSE!!

And, where I was eating the Lamb burger with red onion chutney, with chips and salad, there was another man to join the ranks of twin-age, multiple look-a-likes. 

Another, been there done that, in this case, tried it, ate it, will not bother with that again.  Left most of the bun, and half the chips. 

And, another and, there was a dog inside the establishment. 

While eating a sudden rain shower fell and immediately this rainbow stretched across the view. 

Erie Canal or rather the Montgomery Canal

Day 17 Walking

Tynllwyn Farm to Welshpool to Buttington to Llanymynech 

10.30 miles plus 3.5 equals about 14 miles

6.5 hours

David the Host (never saw his wife Jane who must have done all the behind-the-scenes work)

The Farm off on a hill 

Sunshine!  At least to start the day.  Had considering starting off with the skort on, but after stepping outside with David my host for him to point out where I should go, stuck with the leggings (freshly washed using the shower stomp yesterday). 

Today was a flat walk along the Montgomery canal path.  Began in Welshpool after stocking up on CROISSANTS at a bakery.  

 

Excited about the change of landscape.  Happily walked along the canal and totally missed the spot where Offa's Dyke turned east. Feet kept following the tow path and enjoyed the feel of being a semi-pioneer pulling my barge on the Erie Canal. 
 

Learned there was a Yew tree at least 300 years old on property at Tynllwyn Farm, which would have pre-dated the current structure.  Yew trees have to be planted so they assume the location was occupied for a long time. 

Remains of a Lime Kiln for burning lime to be used as fertilizer for fields. 

Goodbye to Allen who had to return to normal life today via 3 train rides.  We ate breakfast together and compared notes on the Good, the Bad, and Ugly places we had stayed at.  He was a day behind me until the last 3 days.  We both agreed the Worst was the place where we had to share the bathroom with The Brother-in-law where all the bathroom fixtures were a horrible shade of brown and there was a glass door with an old worn bathrobe hanging over it. 

Allen

The official WORD is that Wednesday summer WILL arrive.  Any time is fine with me, but can put up with a few more rainy days in preparation for SUMMER. Now to see if that actually happens. 

Lots of Locks today that are all opened and closed by hand pushing those heavy black boards with white ends. 

Walked the one mile back into Welshpool from the Farm as I wanted to get some lunch foods. Easily could have taken a short cut and met up with Offa's Dyke further ahead. From where the actual route began in Buttington going along the tow path from Welshpool it was 2.5 extra miles.  So an extra 3.5 today. 

These places keep reminding me of The Mill on the Floss. 

The Montgomery Canal flowed crossed the River Vyrnwy on an aqueduct.  I walked alongside. 

Birthplace of Lawn Tennis was at Rhysnant Hall outside the village of Four Crosses. 

THREE CROISSANTS for 1.50!!!

T

Was about to change into the skort late morning as the weather had warmed up when a spread out group of over 50 walkers appeared along the tow path.  It was a sponsored walk for the Rugby team of Welshpool. Not sure where they began, but most looked very unfit for walking.  All the young people were a bit heavier, all were carrying 2 liter containers of soda, and most of the bottles were half empty.  They all had red faces and were sweating.  I don't think they will have faired very well by the end of their walk.  

This little boy was way ahead of all the other walkers and startled me as I came around the curve and under the bridge.  He was all sweaty and I thought he was hurt or hiding.  When I asked if I could take his picture he wanted to know why, and then proceeded to ask me to delete it.  Poor kid he probably thought I was a strange lady preying on small children. Spoke with one of the adults walking along with the kids and they said not to worry about it.  So, don't share his photo with anyone else.   He has been taught well. 

Personally I was more excited about the swan on her nest  than the osprey nest last week. 

Tea in Arddleen at The Horseshoe Inn.  Didn't see any horses or abandoned shoes.  Ate the almond croissant with the pot of tea. Yummy

Approached two old codgers who were drinking and smoking in the middle of the day to get this person steered back in the correct direction after the tea break (with the almond croissant from morning). In spite of their impairment, they did direct me correctly.  

Four sets of swan couples were encountered on the canal during today's walk. They were spaced out about a mile apart from each other.  The second set had the "wife" sitting on the nest (as I am not up to date on swan family life, I could have been wrong and it might have been the "husband" on the nest).  The third couple had one child, which they both were guarding as they swam amongst the lily pads.  The fourth family had been very productive and had a large brood they were introducing in the methods of eating green muck, plant life, and dead plant life. 

And we thought geese left a mess!

Did not see any other walkers all day, but then I was sort of off on Lois' personal route to get from A to B. 

Saint Agatha's Church 

There were 5 of these large embroidered panels telling the story of the community of Llanymynech.  Each panel represented something:  Memories, Heritage, Business, Community, Flora and Fauna

Detail of the Community panel. 

Just heard someone come into The Bradford Arms here in Llanymynech, and from what I heard it was a walker whose baggage has not yet been transferred from wherever it had been last night. At least my baggage is always with me - stuck on the back. 

Bumble Bee. 

Had to turn in the questioner/menu for breakfast tomorrow. I only indicated coffee, cereal, toast, and where you could write comments or special requests I had put "fruit".  

The man came and asked me about the fruit.  He seemed puzzled by that.  Said he had an apple. I looked at him and said "that would be nice".  He then offered a banana.  Again, "that would be nice".  He said he would go and buy one.  I might just as well have bought my own banana on my way back from the Indian restaurant as it was right next door to the tiny shop/Post Office. 

Pilau rice and Vegetable Vindaloo, which was described in the menu as "Extra hot. Very hot. Have ice nearby".  It was hot, the lips are burning, but it was good!!