Day 22 - Pandy to Hay-on-Wye

6 May
Distance: 17 miles
Number of killer dogs: 0

Wow! What a fantastic day.

Yesterday afternoon as we were walking into Pandy on the ODP, our friends Vic and Juan were walking in from Abergavenny (which explains why the green line on the map hasn't been updated for a few days - we are making progress and it will make a huge leap forward when Vic returns home at the end of the week).

So not only did we have company for tea last night but we also had company on our walk today. Even better, way back when we set the date for this walk and came up with the first few weeks of the schedule, Vic booked a cottage in Hay on Wye. So for the next two nights and for our day off we have a cottage in which to relax. Bliss.

It was 9am this morning by the time we met up with Vic & Juan and started the stiff pull up to the ridge that we were to follow for the rest of the day (none of the undulations of the last few days :-)).

The sky was clear and although the day was too hazy to make for good photos, the views were absolutely superb. Better than superb, in fact.

The path was also unlosable (I can say that with hindsight!) which meant that this was the least-navigation day so far; all the more time to look around uttering 'oooohs' and 'wows' (of which there were many).

As we were following the border between England and Wales most of the day, the decision came as to in which country to have lunch. Vic, Juan and I chose Wales. Mick, alongside us, we reckoned was in England.

We were actually lucky that lunch happened for us at all. Once again we failed to buy food in advance and learned upon arrival at our campsite that there is no shop in Pandy. Fortunately for us, Vic came up trumps and managed to procure 4 packed lunches from her B&B.

Contrary to the last couple of days of tiredness by half way through the day, today I felt fresh as a spring chicken. That freshness lasted well - until we started the descent from the ridge towards Hay, at which point the feet started to complain again. Then they started to complain with gusto. It was last-half-mile-syndrome a-go-go. But even aching feet couldn't detract from the absolute splendor of the day. It was up there as one of, if not the, best day so far.

A bit of a boost was given by the Jelly Baby break on the descent (thanks to Backpackinglight for sending two packs with the order we placed last week; the resupply of Gehwol foot cream will also be appreciated).

Having made Hay-on-Wye it was good to find the bus stop we needed to be just five paces from the ODP and also that the bus stop was plentifully supplied with benches.

I'll gloss over the fact that it was a mile and a half walk from the bus stop at the destination to the accommodation, because by then a trip to the pub and a huge meal had refreshed us no end.

We're thoroughly looking forward to a day off tomorrow. Bet we wake up at 6am, mind.