The next few days of this walk will be the crux I think. This is because of logistical problems rounding the Leyn Peninsula. Today I wanted to get to Aberdaron but have fallen at least eight miles short.
The day started with an airy walk round the headland leading to a long beach trog along The Warren into Abersoch where I spent too much time breakfasting. I also bought a wretched 1:25 map of The Leyn. Within a couple of miles I had all sorts of navigation problems largely because I was trying to manipulate the huge, bulky new map as well as my own 1:50 sheets along with two walking poles and my Memory Map GPS. What I really needed was a caddy. Through various frustrations I reckon I lost at feast an hour, but pressed on with optimism. When at last established on the proper path the scenery was dramatic and the going good on closely cropped turf, but chances of reaching Aberdaron at any sensible time were running along the lines of what I think is a hyperbolic function (no doubt somebody will correct me on this).
At about 3:45 I arrived at this sleepy little village at the southern end of the impressive Hell's Mouth beach. I went into the pub and had orange and tonic then set off again in the late afternoon heat with the prospect of a very long walk still to do. About five hundred yards out the the village I happened on this small farm camping site, and combined with the knowledge of the nearby inn for a prospective evening meal it was a no brainer
I still see two days ahead with sparse food and camping facilities so the old resourcefulness will have to come into play.
Those 1:25 maps are just not practical. They are two large to fold up and carry in any convenient way and some of the detail is so faint you can hardly see it; also I find the colouring does not have enough contrast. The one saving grace they do have is depiction of field boundaries.
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Sounds a fascinating walk so far.
ReplyDeleteDon't eat too much in all those friendly pubs.
Super weather for camping - you seem to have hit a good anticyclone. The 10 day forecast is good.
It would be interesting [to me] if you included your mileages for each day.
Been out on the rock with Rod a couple of times - getting back into it.
Best wishes. JP
I am fascinated by the idea that a walk may have a crux. In climbing a crux was where you either fell off or went on as young Lochinvar, your forehead bathed in celestial... twaddle; how did I find myself here? In any case, young Lochinvar only came out of the west and I assume you have other options.
ReplyDeleteI assure you that reading about you and the wretched map, wrapped like a mummy on some windy peninsula, is far more interesting than, say, "Eight miles of excellent walking." The first contains passion, the second suggests you're on the payroll of the guide-book publisher. I note that your standards slip a few lines further on ("the scenery was dramatic" - blah!) but, happily for your reader, the map continues to eat away at your mind like a maggot and you end with a panegyric of bad temper. Walk on and suffer for us!