Friday 25th May
Despite planning our walk for 6 months we still managed to leave our packing to 25 minutes before we had to leave! We got to the station at break neck speed only to have our excitement dampened by a 7 hour journey (3 of which were spent getting from swansea to kilgetty!) the wait was worth it. Stunning beaches and views to Tenby - our destination for the first day. As our B&8 was a little way along the Pembrokeshire Coast we decided to walk back on ourselves to the official start point of the path so we could officially claim we walked every step. It was then that the reality of the next 2 weeks kicked in and what we were about to embark on for Angus and the trust - and we couldn't wait to get started.
Saturday 26th May
Fearing rain and a total wash out we woke on Saturday to beautiful blue skies and warm sunshine. Things were going our way! We had arranged to meet Ru and Sophie and David and Laura at the pirate cafe with Guy deciding the correct way to eat a pirates breakfast was to be dressed as one. Although we know the southern part of the walk is less tough there are enough ups and downs to get a good workout. Scenary was as stunning as it was varied, from the sun lit but cool cliff top woodland to small secluded sandy coves. Pack lunch was taken on tenby south beach followed by competitive frisbie for the Pattison brothers and forty winks for everyone else. We just about talked ourselves into a campsite that "doesn't take younsters". A lively evening in a pub where we were joined by the next days support walkers, jo, Ben, Emily, Rehana, Louie and Henry, rounded off a fantastic first day that made us wonder if we had enough challenge to our fund raising adventure.
Sunday 27th May.
Challenge found at 3.30 am checking guy ropes in thunder storm and gale force winds. Then again with packing away tent in said weather at 7.30 am and at 9am with long road detour to avoid live firing range, although suggestions that to save an extra twenty mins in the rain the range was worth the risk were aplenty. It was difficult to appreciate or even see the coastal scenary in such heavy and unrelenting rain. Everyone that walked with us deserves sponsorship of their own for being so generously high spirited in such down right miserable conditions. Perhaps Emily and Ben twice for whipping out a huge tub of home baked snacks at eleven. Tough negotiation and the prospect of selling ten 3 course Sunday lunches saw the soaked mob take over the tiny castle inn at manorbier bay. We thought two might have deserted only to learn they had stripped and were trying to warm under the hand drier in the gents. Post lunch there was a parting of ways, us on to swanlake bay, ru and Sophie admirably walking onto some friends having not been put off by the last two days and the others onto ... Another round in the pub and quite right too. Having you all there for us and the trust meant a hell of a lot so thankyou.Unsurprisingly we were very pleased to reach our farmhouse bandb above swanlake bay an hour or so later, though one look from the person who answered the door and pointed us around the back made us think they're were less pleased to see us. Of course it wasn't so and we were quickly warmed through fabulous Welsh hospitality. Two ten mile walks on the same coast that could not have been more different. Rather perversly todays
was far the more satisfying.
Monday 28th June
Just the two of us now until sat with an 18 miler to get stuck into.
We are joined on the first two miles to freshwater east by the farm's dog, a terrier who seems very keen to show us the way. We're quite happy with this recalling a conversation a couple of weeks earlier with someone who walked the path over twenty years ago and was joined by a strange dog who after a full days walking just turned around and just trotted off home. Todays scenary in the sun is absolutely stunning but the real beauty of walks is the amount of time you have to chat about everything and nothing. The first half of the day is quite strenuous so it tends to follow a pattern of nothing on the climbs and everything downhill! We spot a bird of prey and find out later its a p falcon nesting and make ourselves laugh hard as we walk slowly with kit across the geogrous beach of barafundle like a rehearsal for a moon landing while kids build sandcastles. Lunch is sat sheltered on the fern cliff top above broad haven where it is difficult not to fall asleep. However Helen gets a burst of energy to lead us home for the night, passing the impressive green bridge of Wales, a rock formation with thousands of sea birds sat on it so there's not a bare inch.
Tuesday 29th May
Its a beautiful start to the day as we head to freshwater west the famous surf spot. Since yesterday afternoon the dark gloomy towers of pembroke oil refineries have intermittently interrupted our views as the path twists with the coast. It didn't take long after the first reference to mordor before the first domestic because someone didn't like being called samwise! Four remote hours to Angle were the best yet, plenty of climbs but each one rewarded with breath taking views. Brett, Caroline and their two lovely daughters Lotte and Daisey treated us to lunch before joining us for the last leg of the day. Just last month they climbed snowden as a family which'll serve as great inspiration for the rest of the trip, but not as inspiring as daisy turning every gate into a kissing gate!
Wednesday 30th May
Less said about today the better. Soaked through from the moment heads were poked out of the tent. Bleak walking to Pembroke that seemed twice not half as far as Monday. Still the end of day pint still tastes good! Less Famous Five Go Camping and more River Runs Wild meets The Day After Tomorrow!
Thursday 31st May
After 3 hours we finally cross the Gleddau Bridge. We're on the right side and heading in the right direction! But we're still walking through depressing urban sprawls refineries and miserable weather. Worst things about today...
Pembroke
Milford Haven
Wet feet
Unstable bridges made of shaky wire over oil pipes
No birds or wildlife
Welsh locals saying that this is "unseasonable weather"
Dodgy Maltese lasagna
Eating to trance music
However we are safe at Sandy Haven and what a haven it is!
Friday 1st June
This is better! Waiting for the right tide times for a couple of crucial crossings meant a later start to today but we have a spring in our step and the weather is on the up!
in fact the sun was out long enough to blister Helen's ears! The best things about today...
Turning north passed St Ann's lighthouse
Atlantic wind in our face
The village of Dale
Buzzards
Spotting the lesser spotted adder
Views over Marloes Sands
Views at East Hook Farm where we were staying
Being greeted by Lexi, Ben, Dan and Tammy and by Mark and Suzie
A beer at the Lobster Pot
Passing our half way point at 93 miles
Postscript
Hurrah we've finished... AND all in one piece! First off a very big thank you to those that sponsored us, at the moment we can account for over £2,500 which is great news. Also thank you to those "support teams" that took time out to come and join us - it helped us keep on going and was really appreciated. For us the walk was not just about raising money but also having some decent reflection time, which we had in bucket loads on the Pembrokeshire cliffs. Being able to capture and share the spirit of Angus through the walk with so many of you is the thing we'll remember the most.The blackberry gave up after week one, so here's the summary of week two;
Highlights
. Days walking where we were joined by fantastic support teams (teams 4, 5 and 6!)
. The last four days when it didn't rain once... so finally a dry tent, dry boots etc!
Low-lights
. None (well not now we've finished!)
Top Tens
. Far too long and controversial to go into but several days debating saw the best film of all time - Die Hard (both), song - Led Zep's Stairway to Heaven (Guy), kids programme - Dungeons and Dragons (Helen), old school snack - pink wafer biscuits (Guy) etc, etc. You get the gist.
Walk Awards
. Best breakfast - bacon sarnies (Tammy and Lexi)
. Best campsite - Pencarnan (view of Whitesands Bay)
. Most under-utilised bit of kit - swimmers
. Best last minute purchase on someone else's advice - walking poles (really)
. Most inappropriate walking gear - white trousers, foaming rucksack and floral umbrella... (we'll spare the naming and shaming)
. Best view - cliffs at Pwll Deri
. Most comical moment - sharing the grimiest pork pie in the torrential rain outside a power station
. Most unpleasant smell - acrid power station / Helen's boots
. Most chipper walker - Suzie
. Best pint / pub - The Sloop Inn, Porthgain
. Best blister - three on one toe (Guy) / most leakage (Dave)
. Best lunch spot - Cwm-Yr-Eglwys near Dinas Head
. Worst facial hair - Guy
. Best snack - home made flapjacks by Ben and Emily
. Best nature spot - Adder (Helen)
. Most competitive tent erector - Dan
. Most amount of excuses found for walk stops - John and Denise
. Best Lord of the Rings landscape - tracking orcs at St David's Head
. Worst Lord of the Rings landscape - towers of Mordor (Pembroke Oil Refinery)
. Most premature celebratory ice cream - Poppit Sands, 2 miles before the finish
. Best post finish curry - Abdul's in Cardigan
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