June 1
Best news item last night on TV was the 85 year old woman who knit the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, their carriage and 4 horses drawing it. All teeny, tiny and crazy as could be.
We continued to watch my favorite SpringWatch each night, M-Th. Most little newborns are doing well (except that Runty the Nuthatch finally died.)
At the start of our walk today, I watched two beautiful, low-flying red kites hunting. These kites have very large triangular tail feathers that they use for banking and circling. As they fly so low, they are a joy to watch.
We walked through the Gilfach Nature Preserve (heavy mist - well, OK, rain) and watched some serious bird photographers waiting for their perfect shot. They go so far as to set up very woodsy looking perches with some seed to lure their subjects in. R also had the opportunity to take some great pictures. I searched (in vain) for some newts.
The Preserve has a restored longhouse, the style of farmhouse used in Wales for hundreds of years - two large rooms, people on one side and livestock on the other. Stone with a slate roof. Humble and rough.
Another reminder that we are in slate territory are the trail gate weights - slabs of slate drilled trough with a hole and tied together to "automatically" close the gate behind us.
Out of the Preserve and back to the trail on a small, paved farm track. More slate - cliffs to one side and an old standing slate Welsh wall on the other. Came upon a farmer driving his sheep down the track - always fun to see as we stepped aside to watch them all pass.
We ate our lunch in a little overgrown graveyard (it was the only place for miles to sit down - we sat comfortably on a stone tomb) then continued on our way, well-fuelled.
We passed the largest, strongest, most muscular bull I had ever seen. He almost looked like a caricature, he was so buff! He was also a blond bull, which may have shown off his physique better. We walked very calmly and slowly past as there was no fence between us.
Up we went, to the top of the world (this part of Wales, anyway) - it was fairly clear, so we saw for miles and miles. Great feeling up there with no one but the sheep. And the wind.
Dead Animal Count - 1
1 crow
12 miles
He Said:
Since we were not able to connect to the internet in Llangurig, we are doing so from our new place in Chester as we have arrived today, June 3.
June 1, what a great day in the mist. This stage had the most climbing of all the stages at 2200', and a length of 12 miles. But it was done in gray, misty, and light rain conditions, which made for easy walking and peaceful and subtle ambiance.
From our place in Rhayader, we followed a road, then a path that mostly climbed up for 2 miles to the top of a beautiful rural valley. By this time, the mist was becoming thicker soon turning into a light rain which our jackets easily blocked. The temperature was very comfortable and the path was not slippery as we descended into the valley that contained the Gilfach Nature Reserve. This reserve, formerly farm land, now has allowed nature to rebuild the original floral and fauna. We saw half a dozen nature photographers taking pictures of colorful birds lured to tasty food. We enjoyed the pristine stream at the bottom of the valley, with waterfalls and greens of all kinds.
As the valley met the river Wye at the bottom of the nature preserve, we then turned up the valley cut by the Wye. The quietness of the nature preserve was now replaced with the faint sound of traffic, but no matter, the views we wonderful. After several more miles, we were feeling hungry and started looking for a sheltered place to sit and have lunch. Such a place has been hard to find on our walks, especially now that that we were really away from it all... very few buildings, let alone hamlets. We finally found an old grave yard where we could sit in peace and enjoy lunch.
Our next feat was to make a good climb up a very steep path to the top. At the top, the views were great, and the grass contain only sheep and what they leave behind. The way back down to our destination was very rough, steep, and hard on the knees... but we made it at the end of the day.
Our photos:
The clock tower in Rhayader was right outside our window
a Red Kite hunting above Rhayader
Flora on the path
Gilfach Nature Preserve
the path down the Wye valley
A steep climb up to the high path
The post office, general store, and town center of Llangurig
Our B&B
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