Happy Easter in the middle of Wales

Hi Folks,

I left you in Llangollen, but I have not stopped yet. After that day, I walked 5 more days to Kingston. Heading south, and I geek very closed to south England, I hope it will bring some more warm days.

The path after Llangollen was mainly over hills, just up and down hills in and out field, but thankfully the weather was good…until the forth day, when I was in the middle of the storm Katie.

I didn’t have time to write for a couple of reason: firstly, in the middle of Wales I had problem with my internet connection, sometimes it was even difficult to charge my devices, and secondly because I walked, walked, walked a lot.

I actually can’t tell you how much I walked, just because I am still confused about miles! Twice I arrived at destination just before the sunset. On the third day it was actually just on time before it got dark, but it was a great and epic day. Before talking about it, I would like to explain how I decide my stops.

As a hiker I can’t plan everything too much in advance, so I usually plan it the day before. With guide maps and internet I try to find the next stop in a distance of 20-25 kms, which is approximately 6-7 hours of walk, but then there is always space for some improvisation… if I feel good I do something more but if I get lost for a while or I don’t feel great at all I stop before.

The epic day was Thursday; on Wednesday I tried to find a campsite or a hostel bu they were either closed or too far. But also, it was closed to Easter bank holiday and it was fully booked everywhere and according to the weather forecast it was the last sunny day before Katie storm arrived. My only solution was to walk as far as I could. And I actually did so – it was seriously an epic day, great and warm, but so tiring. I started at 9.30 am from Welspool and I eventually arrived to Newcastle at 6.30 pm.

I remember that at 5.30 I read the signal that were 3 miles more to the village and I fell really scared, my feet and shoulder could not manage anymore. When I arrived at the campsite I had just the time to camp my tent that the darkness came down. It was a wonderful day, the first rough day so far, but I really hope that will never happen again.

Later that, I was able to continue anyway, but for Easter I prefered to stop a couple of days, before continuing…after all, this is not a race, isn’t it? Five more days and I’ll be in South England.

Matteo