Monmouth to Pandy
For long hiking days you need 2 things before you even start. Organisation (so you're out by 9am sharp), and a huge full English. Those calories will be more than used up in the next 6 or 7 hours.
The start of the hike is a good time to stock up on any supplies you may need (I can recommend biscuits so you can sit and refuel later on looking out over nice views).
It's a day of crossing fields today. You'll see loads of stunning scenery, farm animals a plenty, the odd pheasant. It's exposed so I got a good wind blasting again today.
The miles and gradients are starting to really test my physical prowess (as I've said before, running upstairs gets my heart racing so don't let my lack of physical capabilities put you off walking this). I'm more of a plodder than speed Walker and who should pass us but the Dutch couple from Chepstow! We chatted a short while and it turns out they were heading to Pandy too. I invited them to carry on as I'd only slow them down. A comment about young legs versus not so young legs was made. We laughed and I died a little inside! I picked my spirits up with the realisation they had to overtake me which means I left before them, which means, in my book, that I'm more organised than them.
My hiking buddy and I were tiring. It was lunch time. We spent a few minutes working out where the nearest eatery was and settles on it being about 30 minutes away. By now we were losing our sense of humour (hunger does that to you) so we set off to fine The Boars Head pub. We walked less than 20 yards around a corner and slap bang in front of us was.... The Boars Head! Our calculations may have been slightly off.
The Boars Head is stunning! The landlord was really nice and proud (rightly so) of his establishment. They had 26 weddings for this year already booked in with further weddings booked right up to mid 2018. He's done well and he pours a decent pint. We needed this pitstop and it delivered in spades.
Refreshed we set off again. We were near White Castle and decided to stop in for a look at the ruins. More stunning views and history than you could shake a stick at. As we wandered around the grounds who should we see but... The Dutch! We waved and smiled but headed off without chatting. We were winning! My old legs may not have speed but they've got the stamina. We didn't see them for the rest of the day. Take that!
We made it to Pandy and got ourselves sorted out with a room in the Pandy Inn. I'd called earlier to book a room. They gave us this big family room but charged single rates. I've just had a good shower and feed up, now to sample some local brews!
No comments:
Post a Comment