Pied Piper of Sheep

Day 8 Walking

From Felindre to Llynbadarn Fynydd to Abbeycwmhir

17 miles with detours Lois caused

7.5 hours

Last evening was driven by Richard the host in his Rather beaten up and dirty Range Rover to eat two miles away with another couple staying at Brandy House Farm (Lindsey and Roy).  We shared a table and spent almost two hours talking.  They were in their early 70's and have traveled all over the world and done all sorts of interesting things. 

Fish with Mushy Peas (nasty) and Salad.  Was able to get the salad instead of the chips.  Should have requested "garden" peas.  Next time will know better. 

In March they had spent two weeks hiking and camping in Jordan. Lindsey is going up to Scotland to play golf once she completes this walk for a week and after that will go golfing in Germany with friends for a couple weeks. 

They talked about hiking in Nepal, not up on Everest, but close enough that they could clearly see it.  Talked about how they used a guide and he would only let them go up so many feet each day once they were above 10,000 feet as the body needed time to acclimate.  While they were there another couple was hiking alone with just their guide. Both were physicians, and when the guide told them they had gone high enough for one day, they insisted they would be fine.  A while later the wife began to feel ill, then really ill, then she just died.  Lindsey and Roy saw her body being brought down wrapped up in a rug.  What a horrible thing to happen. 

The time flew by in the restaurant as stories were told.  Made me feel like a country bumpkin compared to what they have done. However they were not snobbish at all, just very ordinary people.  They also love the U.S. and come over every year for a visit. 

We were supposed to call Richard for a ride back when finished eating.  No answer. Finally Mark the owner of the pub and also the cook, drove the three of us back to where we are staying at the Brandy House. Good service.  Small community. 

The Internet was really uncooperative last night and I couldn't get online unless sitting in the main house and using the private wifi for the family.  So it was nice to have the evening filled with conversation even if I might never see those people again.  It added to the experience. 

Path through wooded area with trail sign. 

The stable bedroom was very nice, but it was very cold in there. They leave all the doors open to the outside and have no screens.  Everyone just goes in and out, and the in seems a continuation of the out. 

Brown flies

Down into the Valley I go

The hostess was making homemade granola last evening and the baking smells were amazing

Breakfast room with farmhouse split door (open to outside)

Homemade granola 

This morning Richard served my breakfast wearing a blue and white striped apron 

Learned that the Welsh word cwm means valley.  Now I know a little bit more. 

Learned the phrase "not enough chimney pots" means very low population in an area. 

Came down from one of the countless high hill spaces and a herd of cattle were munching by the trail.  One looked at me and said "moo".  All the others looked at me, and all said "MOO", and then turned as a group or rather herd, and ran off down hill, away from me. 

There they go. 

One high hill had the remains of an old castle called Bryn Mawr (castle of the wolf).  On the lower slope was the cottage for the subservient lower class. 

The trail often went through farmyards, most were rather a muddy junky mess. 

Ate lunch by the Afon Ieithon, a trout stream in Llanbadadarn Fynydd. Actually it was not a real lunch. Ate the ice cream bar. Later ate the salt and vinegar crisps while walking.  Later ate the Braeburn Apple (not very good).  Saved the Bounty bar for a future snack. 

The Great Hall of Abbeycwmhir 

Giant carved bear in the woods of the Great Hall. 

Saint Mary's of Abbeycwmhir

When coming down the final descent and crossing a pasture after climbing the stile a little herd of sheep must have thought I looked special.  First a few came running and finally everyone came and followed Lois the Pied Piper of Sheep. They made me laugh, which was good because I was tired.  The last hour or more each day kind of does this body in.

Only 3 sessions of stretching out the back on a bit of grass (watch out for sheep droppings), or a bit of gravel track.

Feet not too bad.  Band aids helped.

On arrival here at Mill Cottage was shown my room and the bathroom down the hall that I will be sharing with the brother-in-law of the hostess (not a fan of this arrangement, but it is only one night).  Was served a large pot of tea and fruit cake slices.  Best part is this place is that the WiFi seems to work.  Maybe that last episode of Call the Midwife can be watched, and even better will be a FaceTime chat with Gary.

Dishes

Front window looking out from Mill Cottage 

Dinner tonight was "in-house" meaning my hostess cooked and served 2 courses.  Ham with broccoli (I had been craving broccoli), cauliflower, new potatoes, a dish she called something like croquettes or little bones) which turned out to be zucchini with other veggie.  It was my favorite!  A mini Pavolva (meringue) with ice cream, whipped cream and fresh fruit.  Would have been fine without the Pavolva, but now I know what it is.

Pavolva 

Photo of the step daughter of my hostess, who is in the military stationed in Afghanistan.  She is standing next to Camilla who is next to Primce Charles