I left Liverpool 16 days ago, I’m now down in Chepstow, it’s been a complete mix of weather and terrain over this section! Tomorrow I’m heading over the Severn bridge, meeting my dad at Severn Beach for a map swap, and then onto Bristol for a few days of being a tourist.
I’ve used a lot of different national trails on this trip, but I think Offa’s Dyke has been the hardest so far, lots of ups and downs. One of favourite parts was on the edge of the Black Mountains national park, the path took me up to 600m and then along a wide ridge for about 12km, just great views all around, to the left rolling hills of England, to the left Welsh mountains and storm clouds that were heading my way, ahead of me what I think was the Bristol Channel, I didn’t look back. I did get really soaked up there though, I remember my hands being very cold, I tried the old Mark Fowler market trick of blowing into your hands to warm them up, but nothing, I spent about five minutes trying to undo a button on my fly, I just had to laugh. 
I think one of the funniest things that I contemplated doing this week, was phoning my mum for advice on horses in a field, I’ve realised I’m such a townie, I just thought you weren’t meant to go in fields with horses, WE DON’T GO IN THERE. I basically came to a field with horses and stupidly started panicking, looked at the map for about five minutes searching for a route around, eventually I just went for it through the field, they showed absolutely neigh interest in me. Such an idiot. Since then I’ve passed many, seems to be loads on the Welsh hills, possibly wild horses?! Ive passed so many farm animals on this section, still need to find out the cow for ‘get out of the way’.
Trail tips – grow a beard, as when it rains it creates a mini reservoir that holds the rain water, you can then drink straight from the moustache, no need to carry a bottle.
James Johnson 