There’s nothing like …

… a nice easy start to the day, easy terrain, pin-point accurate navigating, that sort of thing.

Well

the topographical features a propos the walk out of Kington aren’t my fault guvnor, forces beyond my control. However, gotta fess up to the latter and taking Becca up hill and down dale for no discernible benefit apart from “they’d follow him anywhere if only out of idle curiosity”. I can claim up close and personal interaction with both deer and fox; but whether that compensates for me standing around twisting a map and then abruptly disappearing into the undergrowth in search of the lost path is a no longer moot point.

You know the feeling: you’re 95% sure of where you are, 95% sure of where everything else is and 90+% sure of the right path … but linking it all together is a tad tricky. I will be un-sewing my map-readers badge from my Cub Scout uniform first opportunity. Suffice to say we (over?)exercised our right to roam and reacquainted ourselves with Offa and his Dyke’s Path. We did have to leave it at Knighton and the afternoon was all about Shropshire and miles miles miles.

yep, it was a long day as expected but one of those which did seem interminable. And never-ending too. But here we are in Upper Affcot just outside Craven Arms (‘centre of the marches’ – no need to tell us that) and the Thatcher’s Gold is working its fruity magic, itsh frooshy margeick, and life is shmashering again.

The Great Yellow Orb in the Sky continues to do its thing and the views keep reminding us what a great country we have

We did also pass numerous old relics, here’s one that Becca for some reason liked

That Chippendales audition is a formality I think. Believe it or not I seem to have lost about a stone in weight … Yep, I had it to lose, Becca is ahead of me and doing the muscle tone thing. Talking of the beauty and the brains of the outfit I remain staggered and humbled by how someone so a-blistered can walk the miles she does. The morning ritual is something not to behold … more of a (wo)man than me Gunga Din.

68000 steps today (really) … Stroll on