Walking the Offa's Dyke Path
Day Eight: Trial by hobbling
More
than half way to their goal
Our determined hikers set off this day to continue their 12 mile walk from
Brompton to Welshpool. They were now more than half way to their goal of
walking the entire length of Wales along the long and beautiful Offa's Dyke
Path. The good news was they had only to walk 12 miles this day much less
than the previous day's 15. Plus the path had only two steep climbs unlike
the five or so they had encountered the day before. They were in heavy rain
for just an hour; the rest of the day was filled with light drizzle. Oh
summertime in Wales.
Ernest hurt his left knee skiing before setting off on
the hike. Adjusting for the pain and the long hours of walking had caused
plantar fasciitis to develop in his left foot. Plantar fasciitis is very
painful and was wearing on Ernest, but he hobbled ever onwards. The two
hikers pushed on through the very wet, but magnificent green scenery of the
Welsh countryside.
Magnificent
green scenery of the Welsh countryside
Finally
they arrived at Welshpool a quaint little low-lying town in Powys,
Montgomeryshire. The River Severn flows through the little village. In
England the place was initially known as Pool, but its name was changed to
Welshpool in 1835 to distinguish it from another English town called Poole.
Welshpool served briefly as the capital of South Powys.
Welshpool's Long Mountains served as the ultimate
fortresses for defense in the times when the town was just a swampy marsh.
However, the place was devastated by the forces of Owain Glyndwr, in 1400 at
the start of his rebellion against the English king Henry IV. Owain Glyndwr
was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of
Wales. Today the Long Mountains are part of the Offa's Dyke Path
long-distance footpath and the National Trail Glyndwr's Way.
Our hikers were very glad to reach their destination
this day and to partake in what had become a tradition of hot tea and cake.
They took great solace in drying out from the very wet conditions they had
endured. However nice these few comforts were, they were both beginning to
really doubt if they could continue their walk north. Would they ever see
the end of the Offa's Dyke Path.?
Join the intrepid hikers as they continue their adventure on the Offa's Dyke Path.