Offa's Dyke 2011: day 5 - Sedbury cliffs

Today may only have been 8 miles and less than 4 hours of walking but to me it was so much more. When I left the trail almost a year in, what me be said, a fairly rough condition I had no real wish to return but I not really one to let things go.
A week of spare holiday and my amazing trek in Sweden earlier in the year, that was all that was needed to convince me (although I'm not sure everyone else saw it the same way) it was time to return. Even I was pretty anxious about going back and the uncertainty of the Welsh weather does nothing to calm the nerves, snow, frost, torrential rain, fog, gales anything is possible at this time of year.
As my blog has described, I was lucky this time round (much better than last year) and really couldn't have asked for much more in october.
I have been pleased by my strength and fitness which this year have, like the weather, been greatly improved and meant that my completion of Offa's Dyke has come a day earlier than planned
- also with a lot less pain and blisters than previous.
Anyway, my task is over and I can let it go now and plot the next episode in my slightly unnecessary approach to holidaying. I hope you can find as much happiness in the sight of this plain old lump of rock as I did.

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Offa's Dyke 2011: day 4 - 70 miles

Shattered, only 8 miles to go!
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Offa's Dyke 2011: day 4 - 57 miles

You have an awful lot of time to think whilst you are walking large distances, the things I find myself wondering most:
1 - why when I'm walking do I feel strong and energetic on odd numbered days yet laboured and weary on even numbered days, this trend seems irrespective of terrain and conditions.
2 - why when I'm sleeping in a tent can I only ever sleep for 1 or 2 hours before waking up and having to restart the process.

Today, if you didn't read the top of the blog, is an even numbered day and I'm feeling devoid of energy so I've stopped for lunch in the hope that hotpot and mash will revive me.
It's a really beautiful day here and the surroundings are very pleasant, more importantly it's only 22ish miles to Chepstow.
I really fancy a huge burger with bacon and cheese at this moment, it'll have to wait until tomorrow.
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Offa's Dyke 2011: day 3 - 51 miles

Hell of a long a day, made longer by the inability to find a suitably discrete place to camp. I am, however, now camped and hoping for a very good sleep. I'm currently near a place called white castle (OS 381 164) and a good day tomorrow could mean arriving in Chepstow on sunday, one day ahead of the original plan.
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Offa's Dyke 2011: day 3 - 43 miles

A relentless afternoon, 10 miles completed on a totally exposed mountain ridge with absolutely no shelter. Back to normal surroundings now and I'm way ahead of schedule so every mile is a bonus, I've also cleared the half way point so the distance starts counting down from here.
It has been tough but a good day so far.
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Offa's Dyke 2011: day 3 - 33 miles

Finally after much waiting I'm in the black mountains! A steady paced climb this morning has seen me progress 2 miles and I'm now at a height of 650m, things should level out a bit from here and the ascents become more gradual. Thus far the weather is ok but the wind is strong and there is rain predicted, once on the mountain ridge it will be very exposed so I hope it holds off.
The views arte pretty spectacular!
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Offa's Dyke 2011: day 2 - 31 miles

After what has literally been a day of ups and downs I am now happily camped about 3 miles south of Hay-on-Wye (OS 239 393). It's rather cold again tonight, even inside th tent it's only 10 degrees and outside it's considerably colder - even with the sun up this morning it was only 5 degrees. I've had my dinner and have lots of sweets so I don't really care about the outside as long as it's not raining tomorrow.
Wine gums or Tootti frooties?
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