Monmouth to Pandy.

What a difference a day makes!  Today has been sunny and although a good 17 miles was a lot easier and therefore quicker.  We started at Monmouth at about 8.45am and walked through the town and then out to some lovely green fields where the sheep and lambs were playing; the hills were rolling and it was beautiful countryside (am I sending you a good picture!).  There was a bit of mud at times, but not as slippery as yesterday.  Elevenses were good and lunch was taken in a dry field and Tim B and Carol joined us.  After lunch there was just 7 miles to do, so most of us unloaded our rucksacks with everything but essentials and left them on the bus.  The last 7 miles were quite a bit more hilly, but not too bad.  The only incident was that some of us went slightly wrong and had to cross a stream on stones and carefully climb over a barbed wire fence.

Tim B has a poorly foot, so has not been walking with us; he has therefore been shopping in Monmouth with Carol checking out the bargains and tasting the local scones – I have to report that they were a bit crumbly, so not the best.  

Once we were collected at Pandy by Carol and Tim, we had about a 40 minute journey back to Hay.  We later enjoyed a lovely cottage pie and apple crumble.

Tim S is our wine waiter.

 Steve W enjoying the last of the custard!

Alan enjoying seconds of apple crumble.

Tomorrow is going to be another tough day, apparently you are advised not to attempt it in bad weather as we go a long way up and then along a saddle, then a long way down; about another 17 miles!  So watch this space tomorrow.

The graphs below are from the strava ap that Jacqui and Pat use; it shows quite well all the ups and downs and the maps of where we have been.