Distance: 15.5 miles
Number of killer dogs: a blissful 0
With bus times not being overly convenient and with the bus stop being a mile and a half out of our way, a taxi seemed like a good method of getting back to our departure point on the ODP this morning after our rest day yesterday.
It arrived at 7am, as requested, and ten minutes later we were back at Hay TIC, ready to go - and with the added bonus of the taxi driver having donated £5 of our fare to Macmillan.
We were soon walking alongside the Wye, albeit trees obscured it from our view.
Reaching an A road would not usually count as one of the high points of a day, but today it was from such a vantage point that we got to enjoy fine views of the Wye with mists hanging above.
Haze was a theme of the morning. From the river we started our first climb of the day and the map promised fine views from the top.
Whilst I can't complain about this excellent weather we're having, the haze was such that the views were severely curtailed.
Having made it as far as Gladestry, by just after elevenses (Welsh cakes proving to be an excellent elevenses snack), a quick stop at the pub for some pop seemed to be in order. In fact it was only because of the pub that we went to Gladestry at all; it had been our intention to take a more direct route from one side of the valley to the other.
Not only did we take the detour via Gladestry, but having clambered up the next valley side we decided that rather than following the official ODP route which skirts around one side of the hill we would go straight up to the top and walk along the broad ridge.
It was a good choice and once again the surroundings were superb, set off nicely by the sunshine. Even the views were starting to clear a little.
A chap was met as we passed over the area that the ODP guidebook told us used to be Kington racecourse and after a chat he rummaged in his pocket and gave us £5 for Macmillan. Another good day for our fundraising.
Even having stopped for second breakfast, elevenses, a pint of pop and lunch, we still made it to Kington by 2.30 (whereupon some of the local primary school children mistook Mick for a cowboy; easy mistake to make with that Tilley hat).
Wendy is now pitched on the campsite and our campervan dwelling neighbours have given us a cup of coffee, which is always a nice thing to have happen.
Our only slight concern is that the fair is in town and is in very close proximity. Will we have the sound of fairground rides throughout the evening and into the night?
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