Rhos-on-Sea

Wednesday : Up 07:00, away 10:00 ... then got talking to Hasan who had just got up so I did not start walking until 10:45. Woke with an ache at the front of my right leg a couple of inches below my knee. I imagine this was from walking on hard surfaces all yesterday. Caused me to begin walking with a slight limp and a note to self to walk on grass and sand where available. Good news was the £2 JCB socks had worked fine. No stubbed toes and no ache in the sole of my foot.

Retraced route through Towyn Caravan Parks, over footbridge crossing railway onto the Wales coast path. Coastal path continued alongside the many packed Caravan parks in Towyn, Belgrano, Pensarn and Abergele before opening up with space at Llandduas. I crossed the Afon Dulas river here and immediately after the heavens opened. The first heavy rain I have had on this trip. I sheltered under a railway viaduct in the hope it would cease but to no avail. Eventually I capitulated, donned my full wet weather clothing and carried on. The rain eventually stopped but the temperature remained low so I kept my coat on for the rest of the day.

Entering Colwyn Bay was uplifting. It had a well maintained air with interesting coastal path art, including markers at various distances commemorating athletic successes e.g. Usain Bolt 100m.

Colwyn Bay ran into Rhôs-on-sea which had an even more upmarket feel to it. No Caravan parks nor boarding houses, instead smart suburban houses. At the harbour I caught a bus inland to my campsite for today at Dinarth Hall. This was a working farm with cattle and horses and lots of horsey looking people around. I was greeted by Zoë whom I had spoken to by telephone earlier, directed to the facilities and the camping field. Facilities were a bit tired but functional so perfectly reasonable for £10 including showers.

After pitching and 'fitting out' tent I finished my complementary 33ml shampoo from the Dolphin Inn, Llanymynech today after 13 uses. 2.5ml needed per hair wash for follically challenged people like me! On my return I discovered Hasan from Germany, who had pitched near me yesterday, had arrived and pitched. We walked together to the nearby Queens Head for supper. I learned his parents had brought him from Kurdish Turkey to Germany when he was 6. He spoke German, Kurdish, Turkish, English and a little Spanish. Examplary compared to my smattering of German!

9 miles from Towyn to Colwyn Bay completed at end of 30th day of walking and on Offa's Dyke path.
Total miles so far : 316
Average speed : 2.1 mph
Weather overcast with occasional sunshine. A far cooler day than yesterday with a Westerly breeze for much of the day, although lighter than yesterday.
Number of people passed : Hundreds
Objective tomorrow : ConwyRead more