Day 8: Mitcheldean to Monmouth

Sam and Dave, this is what your feet might look like after 110 miles and a few extra years.

Another day where the estimate was way under – we have walked 18.5 miles and are pretty tired. It was Ian’s turn to flag today, last night’s chicken salad and today’s yoghurt and croissant breakfast not sufficient to keep him fuelled. We had sandwiches and chewy bars for lunch, but didn’t find anywhere for a sweet treat to help us along.

Leaving Mitcheldean, we immediately had to climb up a long steep hill, more tiring than usual with full water carriers. At the top there were some strange Easter Island style carved stones,  we didn’t get close enough to discover why they were there.

Most of the walking was through the Forest of Dean – pleasant in parts, and easier underfoot than yesterday most of the time, apart from some mud, but we were plagued this afternoon by horrible little black flies that wanted to go in our eyes and noses. It was difficult to get much idea of progress as one bit of forest is much like another. Ian saw a deer, and we think we saw a couple of wild boar.

At the end of the afternoon the path climbed to to top of Kymin (250m) but we opted out this time and went round the side, still a long drop down into Monmouth. We crossed the Wye, and we are now in Wales! Goodbye Wysis Way and the dodgy mileages, hello Offa’s Dyke Path (just for tomorrow).

Now bathed and changed into the one set of ‘evening’ clothes, and off to have dinner with my cousin Patrick.

Thank you all for the comments and encouragement, we are really appreciating it.