Wednesday, September 18, 2024

 Offa's Dyke 

Bodfari to Prestatyn

September 18 2024









This morning our taxi was waiting to pick us up from the hotel and ferry us back down to the Dyke Path where we had been picked up last night.  Judy was not going to walk with us this morning so she stayed with the taxi who transferred the luggage up to Prestatyn.  

Naturally the trail headed straight up and it was really steep.  I had thought it was going to be a sunny day but instead we had a dark gray cloud cover and 100% humidity.  Naturally we took a wrong turn half way up the first hill and wound up walking around the hill side looking for the trail.  Ken had his Garmin out and we were back on track. 

Lost notwithstanding we made pretty good time for the first big lump in the route and within a couple of hours we were 4 miles into the trail.  This put us at the top of the first big hill and we were facing a really steep down hill.  Fortunately the trail had a lot of turns, and the path had dried considerably so the down hill wasn't so bad.  

The second big hill was right in front of us and we powered up it over the next hour which put us at lunch time so we sat down to eat the snacks we have been accumulating in our pack. By now the sun has burned off the heavy gray clouds and we have a bright blue sky. 

After the second big hill we ran into what seemed like and endless bunch of stiles.  Some were easy and some were really high and hard to get you foot over.  There were places were you climbed over one crossed the road and climbed a second one.  Then there were the stone ones where there was about four stone steps and a really high stone you had to clear to get over the top.  All these stiles just killed our pace. 

By now we could see Prestatyn and we were hot to get in but there was what seemed like a lot of miles, hills and stiles to climb.  So by the time we got down to the Nova center (kind of a community rec center) which is right on the ocean and the end of the Offa's Dyke trail, we were tired but happy.  Putting the last stamp on my Offa's Dyke passport was great. 

Off to the airport and home in the morning.  

Another great adventure in the books. 

Terry 








6 comments:

Agnes said...

Congratulations on completing this walk! The up and down, rain, sheep shit, more rain, stiles, getting lost all add up to an adventure! Looking forward to seeing you safely home, puppies are waiting anxiously for their walkies!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations. Another great adventure with lots of drama. Way to go.
PHX Jim

Anonymous said...

Congratulations ~ quite an accomplishment!
You’re now veteran UK walkers ~ rest & celebrate 🎉 Milly

Jos said...

Congratulations Terry - you conquered the Wales Walk - quite an adventure and I enjoyed reading every day’s chapter - and always wondering what was going to happen next! Safe travels home and we await the next challenge.

Anonymous said...

Well done, Terry, I've been following your adventures and enjoying reading the write up each night. Glad you all made it, remember 'the journey is the destination,! Give my regards to Judy, Ken and Michael, it was great having you all as guests. Michael, Nant Gloyw b&b, Oswestry

Anonymous said...

Wow! Congratulations terry!! What an adventure. You certainly overcame alot of adversity and you persevered. Well done!!
Chris