Another cracking day...
We had a nice chat with our innkeeper, Joy, before we left The Hollies B+B. Joy is a retired History teacher who, in addition to running the B+B, gives History Tours of Wales. We took her card and will pass it on to R's sister Carrie, as she has been doing ancestry research and has found more history about the Bowen's of Wales (on R's Mom's side of the family).
Stopped at one of the local churches on our way out of town - some interesting gravestones (pillows of stone) and a lovely, touching stained glass window in the back of the church - installed "to commemorate the coming of Peace, May 6, 1945." Whenever we walk through towns and villages, we are always moved by the huge sacrifices all in the UK made in both The Great War and WWII. Even the smallest hamlets have monuments with names of those lost.
In the vestibule of the church was a life-sized, old, old, old reclining stone knight in armor (and his dog lying at his feet) - no name but definitely from ages ago.
On the way out of town, we walked through a park with a standing stone circle. I will Google it later to get the scoop as no locals that I asked knew anything about it!
A few dog-walkers along the path that runs along the river through town – a woman with her tiny Yorkie was forced to stop every few steps with her sweet dog – R noted to her that her dog was just allowing her to slow down and be in the moment. She thought about that and agreed and smiled and said – “that’s true, this is not a rehearsal – life is for real!”
The trail today was shorter and flat – a treat for me as I have a big, fat blister on one of my toes. It was also calming and contemplative; an easy, repetitive path without steep climbs. We passed several, small private fishing cabins along the river – how dreamy for the owners to have a little piece of this paradise.
We arrived in Newbridge-on-Wye, our calling destination for our B+B owner to come to pick us up. We both had a laugh as we tried to call from the red phone box in town (tiny town; one street; one store; two pubs) but had no luck as we read a notice in the box – it exists now only “as an historic artifact, and does not take cash.” We walked to the pub, had a couple of pints and called our host. She came straightaway and we were whisked to the excellent Wernhir Farm, a well-kept and well-organized working farm that also hosts guests as a farm stay. Monica told us that she and her husband used to be tenant farmers close by, and when this large estate came up for sale, and the owner could not find a buyer for the whole kit and caboodle, he divided it up into a few large parcels and she and her husband were so lucky to snap up this one, with the very large farmhouse and several barns. It is delightful (as is Monica) and is clean as a whistle. Our room is large and comfy and we are happy to be here.
My clothes are drying outside on the clothesline – a nice bonus as we expect rain tomorrow. All is right with the world.
(Each day, after our first half mile of so, we are in deep countryside and often see very few people until we arrive at out night’s accommodation.)
Human Being Watch – 1
1 farmer
7 miles.
He Said:
We had a shorter walk today at 7 miles, and it was flat with cooler weather.
Many subdued sights, sounds and smells along the path being mostly in trees along the river.
We saw many places that would be great for fishing; the river Wye seems reserved in many places for private fishing, with small fishing huts for shelter.
The weather is changing for the wetter and colder starting today, should be fun on those high exposed hills.
The photos from today:
At the breakfast table
The Groe at Builth Wells (the stone circle is from 1993....why bother?)
A Welsh Bull
On the trail to Newbridge-on-Wye
At our real farm B&B
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