Sunday 29th May - day 40
Last night I ate at The Glendale Italian restaurant in Penarth. I indulged in what athletes call "pasta loading" and got to the point where I was just too full to cope with a desert.
This morning I had persistent drizzle until arriving in Barry around midday. There was a Tall Ships youth training boat in the dock and I chatted with the guy who was checking youngsters on board. It seems they also do trips for adults up to the age of 80.
Earlier At St Mary Well Bay? I was walking on the cliff top around the perimeter of a static caravan site when I was hailed by a resident and told that the path ahead was blocked by a landslide. He directed me back to a place where I could descend forty feet or so and then walk across the beach. But for the chance encounter here I could have had a lot of messing about.
After Barry I met two ladies walking two fine hunting type dogs (I can't remember the name of the breed), and once again they put me on the right track when I could have wasted time. These two walked with me for a short distance and were intrigued by my project.
Later I met a guy who was setting off surfboarding at Limpert Bay. He said this was a secret location where the water was warmed by the nearby power station. He also said it had created a good breeding ground for Sea Bass creating another secret location for anglers albeit illegal. Further on I overtook a young girl near Boverton and she was able to confirm the existence of a camp site at llantwit Major and she gave me some good directions.
At The Acorn camp site the manager said the site was full and would not let me stay. I lost my temper and had a stand up row with him saying I didn't want to stay on his blankety blank site anyway with his negative attitude. I walked another mile up into the town, and after various abortive attempts to find accommodation and much walking in between I eventually got the landlord of the White Harte, Graham, to let me pitch my tent in the beer garden, but not until after 8:00pm because it may be being used by children until then. This pub does not do meals and I have now come across the road to eat at the Old Swan and will then have to go back and wait until 8:00pm to pitch my tent. Whilst it was very kind of the landlord to let me stay this has been one of the most difficult accommodation I have encountered so far on one of these trips.
Later (9:30pm): I am now encamped in the beer garden after having a very inferior meal in the Old Swan, at that point I was pretty depressed with this evenings events, but strangely, once I had got the Terra Nova pitched, even though it was wet through, I immediately felt a lot better and back in control. I have had a brew of drinking chocolate and some biscuits and feel contented again. One problem remains in that I am locked in here and the only escape is over the back wall with quite a steep drop on the other side. Graham does not surface till after eight and I hope to be off before that. I have promised Graham I will not sue if I break my leg, and he said if you do make sure it is not on his side.
Last night I ate at The Glendale Italian restaurant in Penarth. I indulged in what athletes call "pasta loading" and got to the point where I was just too full to cope with a desert.
This morning I had persistent drizzle until arriving in Barry around midday. There was a Tall Ships youth training boat in the dock and I chatted with the guy who was checking youngsters on board. It seems they also do trips for adults up to the age of 80.
Earlier At St Mary Well Bay? I was walking on the cliff top around the perimeter of a static caravan site when I was hailed by a resident and told that the path ahead was blocked by a landslide. He directed me back to a place where I could descend forty feet or so and then walk across the beach. But for the chance encounter here I could have had a lot of messing about.
After Barry I met two ladies walking two fine hunting type dogs (I can't remember the name of the breed), and once again they put me on the right track when I could have wasted time. These two walked with me for a short distance and were intrigued by my project.
Later I met a guy who was setting off surfboarding at Limpert Bay. He said this was a secret location where the water was warmed by the nearby power station. He also said it had created a good breeding ground for Sea Bass creating another secret location for anglers albeit illegal. Further on I overtook a young girl near Boverton and she was able to confirm the existence of a camp site at llantwit Major and she gave me some good directions.
At The Acorn camp site the manager said the site was full and would not let me stay. I lost my temper and had a stand up row with him saying I didn't want to stay on his blankety blank site anyway with his negative attitude. I walked another mile up into the town, and after various abortive attempts to find accommodation and much walking in between I eventually got the landlord of the White Harte, Graham, to let me pitch my tent in the beer garden, but not until after 8:00pm because it may be being used by children until then. This pub does not do meals and I have now come across the road to eat at the Old Swan and will then have to go back and wait until 8:00pm to pitch my tent. Whilst it was very kind of the landlord to let me stay this has been one of the most difficult accommodation I have encountered so far on one of these trips.
Later (9:30pm): I am now encamped in the beer garden after having a very inferior meal in the Old Swan, at that point I was pretty depressed with this evenings events, but strangely, once I had got the Terra Nova pitched, even though it was wet through, I immediately felt a lot better and back in control. I have had a brew of drinking chocolate and some biscuits and feel contented again. One problem remains in that I am locked in here and the only escape is over the back wall with quite a steep drop on the other side. Graham does not surface till after eight and I hope to be off before that. I have promised Graham I will not sue if I break my leg, and he said if you do make sure it is not on his side.
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I've always suspected that the Indian Railways (and many other larger organisations - state and private - in that wonderful land) were taught not only their 'management' systems (if such a phrase can be used to describe the organised labyrinthine obstructiveness and petty rule making and observances of these bodies) but their versions of English grammar and diction from disgruntled former denizens of southern Wales who were found too awkward even for the socialist paradise of 'South Wales' (the concept, not the geography) and hence shipped out to run the less stellar aspects of Imperial rule.
ReplyDeleteYour more recent logs would appear to give some credence to that prejudice.
But I'm interested to read that the girls seem by and large to have avoided this - indeed seem to have added various pleasures and immeasurable delights your journey!
Good for you!
it was so good to bump into you yesterday. (the 2 ladies with the hungarian vizslas). i feel honoured to have met such an amazing gentleman. i wish i could have walked longer with you but i`m ashamed to say my fitness is rubbish! yes ashamed! i`ll keep intouch with you on here as my husband and i would love to meet you in pembrokeshire. we have a caravan at newgale and would be great to meet up again! (there on weekends, so it`s a gamble i guess) all the very best with your walk. the gower is fab and the weather is looking loads better! take care.
ReplyDeletehi there conrad, i`m so so chuffed to have met you on your walk! i`m nerys and i bumped into you yesterday, whilst out with my mum and my 2 hungarian vizslas. despite your llantwit visit being rubbish i hope the rest of south wales will give you a warm welcome. i hope to keep up with your diary and meet you again in west wales, we keep a touring caravan at newgale. so i think you`ll be passing through newgale on your final way to fishguard. you`re such an inspiration, an amazing man! good luck! x
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