Bryntail Mine, a dam, and the lake it created

Day 10 Walking

Llanidloes to Dylife

14 miles in 7 hours 

Breakfast at the Lloyds Hotel consisted of muesli (not very good), orange juice, toast with orange marmalade, cooked tomatoes and mushrooms, and of course  my own French press of coffee.

Stopped at a Spar grocery and gathered lunch supplies.  Tried to visit Saint Idloes'church as there are "5 arches of the rebuilt 13th century arcade, which was taken from Abbeycwmhir around 1542".  But the church had not yet been unlocked for the day, so onward and upward out of town. 

Almost immediately I stopped by the side of the road and took off the long sleeve shirt (waited for no traffic), which was switched for the short sleeve.  Warm today. 

Walked the path out to the old and now disused 1708 Bryntail Lead Mine.  Climbed around and looked at the remains of buildings, now in the shadow of the Clywedog Dam which was built in the 1960's to regulate the flow of water in the River Severn (remember that was where Offas Dyke Path began at the estuary where the Severn emptied out).  The water backed up behind the dam has created a 6 mile long lake with lots of fingers that is very popular with sail boaters, anglers, picnic goers, Sunday drivers (or in the case of today - Saturday drivers), but no swimmers. 

'Leg of lamb'

Instead of following the designated route up and over a few more hills, the path by the edge of the water and the roadway were chosen for a change of pace. After all, if a couple miles of sheep pastures were missed I didn't feel not seeing those particular sheep would be a great loss. 

Had been hoping to see some hedgehogs in gardens, but so far the only one was a dead one (cropped the photo so as to not show the disgusting parts that were outside the body that really belong inside).  When I asked about seeing a hedgehog a couple days ago was told that they are not as plentiful as in the past. Years and years ago the gypsies would catch them and eat them. They would put them in a pot of boiling water, still alive, the hedgehog would curl up in a ball (like in Alice in Wonderland where the Queen of Hearts plays croquet with curled hedgehogs) and die.  The gypsies would remove the skin and fur after they had been cooked. 

Asked this mornings about the "ancient horned god from Celtic or pre-Celtic mythology that Robert was interested in. The only thing that was suggested was possibly the legend of The Green Man who was a symbol of fertility and rebirth.  He symbolizes spring and summer which is why he was green and had tree branches growing out of his head sort of like antlers.  There was also a woman counterpart for winter representing Ice.  Sort of an Ice Maiden, or Snow Queen (Hans Christian Anderson), or the Disney "Frozen"

While walking along the lakeshore drive (one lane) a group of bird watchers were gathered on the side with binoculars.  I asked what they were seeing.  An osprey nest.  Everyone was really enchanted with the osprey and their chicks. Learned that the birds had gone extinct in Britain in about 1916 and only recently began to come back.  First in Scotland with a pair that came from Sweden, then another pair (maybe children of the swedes) migrated to norther England, a pair built a nest in northern Wales, and in 2011 this special couple came here to the Mid-lands. Cars full of people out chatting and staring off toward distant trees trying to spot the babies.  Reminded me of the lineup along the road in Yellowstone last summer each evening to Wolf Watch.  I didn't bother to attempt to see the osprey as we have them along the Wisconsin river at Gomez. No big deal for me. 

Continued on the path through farmyards, sheep pastures, up hills (sweat), add down hills (no sweat).

All the old barbed wire was thrown down into the ravine 

Cube of rocks

On finally arriving here at Bron Y Llys the hosts Maya and John met me with a pot of tea and freshly made lemon cake (fantastic).  Maya told me the secret was poking holes in the cake when hot from the oven and pouring a cooked lemon and sugar mixture over to soak into the cake proper.  

Cake fork

Robe waiting for this walker

I told Maya about the Texas sheet cake that Kim makes using the same method to create an Intense chocolate cake. 

This book is on the bookshelf in my room!

Learned about Boxing Day in England.  I had always thought it referred to a special Boxing Match between BIG opponents. Turns out it is the day after Christmas, and is traditionally the day everyone opens "boxes" - PRESENTS/GIFTS

Roast Butternut Squash with Haoumi Couscous 

Rhubarb Sylabub. A Sylabub is a dessert that goes back to the 1500's. It was tasty.