Clwyd Gate to Bodfari
11 miles, plus the additional 1 due to not following directions.
7 hours
Story on BBC 1 this morning was about the decline of hedgehogs in the country. The reporters were in Regents Park in London and recently volunteers did a count of the hedgehogs there. They counted about 30, and figure possibly another 10-20 might be hiding under the hedges (where else would they be?). But they are steadily declining.
As Lois was slowly working her way down the slope this woman came running up it.
Walk Wisconsin on the Hills of of Clwydian?
The Dig.
Site of the old dig.
Hedgehogs like to live in messy gardens with rough Wild plantings. Wood piles are good environments. The news people were suggesting that because of the small gardens homes have now, it would be good to encourage hedgehogs to come and live in an area and to make that possible people should have a small hole in the garden fence that would let the hedgehog move to the next garden, and that garden should so have a hole to the next one, and so on.
I would really like to see a living hedgehog. Must look better under brushy areas.
Tried the marmalade with ginger and it was very good.
The hostess Cat.
New centers are being created to learn and use the Welsh language around the country. It has been slowly dying off. Kind of interesting to have the Welsh TV station on and listen to it spoken.
This home being a modern one (1993) has beautiful slate floors, but under the floors are heating pipes so the feet feel toasty warm walking about.
The drapery in my room is long and goes to the floor and reminds me of the former drapes at the Central Wisconsin School of Ballet at the top of the steps. Old world elegance. Only the house wasn't quite so elegant.
From right away in the morning after the first mountain climb it was realized that the flatness off to the west had to be the Irish Sea. Tomorrow I shall be there!
This bouquet was up on the side of the mountain Nd made me wonder if there was some significant reason.
Asked woman on top of Jubilee Tower to take my photo. She wasn't sure she had. Turned out she took exactly 12.
Jubilee Tower was built in 1810 to celebrate the jubilee of King George III (the Mad King). The tower has been rebuilt a number of times but the Fierce winds cause it to crumble. What remain now on the top of Moel Famau, the highest peak in this section of the Clwydian Hills (hills? I would call these very tall hills!).
Jubilee Tower when it was first spotted. Took a half hour walking from this point up to it.
The lady who took a dozen photos of me is training to do a sponsored walk next week up and down Snowdonia.
Lots of ups and downs today. Three huge climbs followed by quick and steep descents. Descents are hard on the knees, and the toes get smashed into the front of the boot.
All of today's walk was in the country (think National) park.
Sensitive lands.
Someone probably needs this.
The name of the festival in Llangollen is called International Musical Eisteddfod. Takes place in July each year.
Not worth mentioning stile climbing as that is very much a part of every day. Each side of the field has one. Two steps up, put trekking poles over to the other side. Hoist one leg over. Balance. Drag other leg over. Step down backwards and hang on to post because the ground is usually way below. Cross field. Repeat stile crossing. Repeat process endless times.
School field trip to Moel Arthur.
Met a man from Belgium who started south yesterday.
Offa's Dyke National Trail crosses the English-Welsh border 10 times. That is a lot of border hopping, too bad my passport is not filled up documenting this "global" travel.
Came down from the high area of Moel Arthur (legend says King Arthur is buried deep inside the mountain - but then even King Arthur is probably a legend), and saw a group of people sitting in the middle of a vast space. Kept walking in their direction and thought at first they were having a painting class. Curiosity caused Lois to divert off the path and approach them. Turns out they are a local archeological group and were digging just below Arthur fort. They have found flints and evidence of burning and large circle areas for cooking or possibly hits baths (saunas). What they have discovered is 4000 years old.
This same group excavated an area just west of this site two years ago and made a major discovery that was the talk of England. Now I must find information about that dig. Told the crew that I used to want to go on a dig in Africa. Talked a bit about the Anasazi people of the American Southwest and but the sites they have left behind. A couple of them were practically drooling with wanting to see those locations. They were finishing up today so when I return in Saturday the ground will be restored and there will be no evidence of what is just underneath the surface.
Bronze Age Burial Mound at Penucloddiao Hillfort.
Young man just getting started on his walk was met late in the day. He will continue until dark and will camp wherever he ends up at. He has four weeks and plans to walk to Stonehenge and then London.
These people didn't move as I approached and began to worry about them. Suicide?
As I passed it seemed they were deeply asleep. About 30 minutes later when I realized my wrong turn and it was necessary to return to where Lois went astray the couple were met on the Kathy. Sign of relief. Not dead people.
Was collected by Mrs Price (no first name) late in the afternoon and driven to this old (1500's) farm house named Plas Penucha. The house is huge and rambling with hallways wider than some rooms in ordinary homes. But, it is very cold inside and the doors are open so the cat, dog and flies are free to come and go. Mrs Price did start a fire in this very large, and cold sitting room. I am parked in the chair closest to the warmth.
Probably because of being outside all day my bones feel extra chilled.
My host is fixing dinner which will be served at 7 pm. I am hungry NOW.
After eating an enormous meal (carrot soup, rolls, blackened chicken, strips of the horrible ham/bacon, carrots, garden pea, mashed potatoes - just a bite - lemon tart with strawberries and ice cream - Lois is going to return home being a bit more of Lois), more history was learned about this house.
Not only does it date back to the 1500's, BUT, Mrs Price's family has lived here right from the beginning of time! So an those old books I was snooping through from the early 1800's are not things collected from garage sales, but had belonged to her ancestors.
In the dining room (former original kitchen) are embroidered/cross stitch pieces framed & hanging on the walls with dates like 1805.
No wonder the walls are thick and the wifi only works when sitting in a certain chair in a certain room.
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