HHH CHAPTER 10: First seven days: information, knowledge, inspirations

As I take a rest day in Llanidloes, I’m planning the next few days and reflecting on my journey so far. In the next section there is almost no overnight accommodation and the roads end in dead ends that lead to busy main roads with cars and trucks driving. I will use an eclectic mix of walks and local buses to make my way to my next holy well.

First the information, my trip in summary.

Walking days 7. Rest days 2.

Total distance 113 km, some by local buses to connect trails or get to the accommodation.

Holy wells visited 5.

Sacred wells sought but not found or impossible to visit 3.

Harps 1. Harpists 0.

The bravest flower… these violets that grow on an inhospitable stone wall.

Outlook so far

The first few days of hiking were the hardest, with unexpectedly difficult terrain and, at times, a lot of rain and wind. Those days showed that I COULD walk 18 km in a day, even though it was exhausting. Plus, I don’t always WANT to do that. Reduces observation time and drawing time. It becomes harder to stop at, or even notice, details like a bee sucking nectar from a dandelion.

My best pace on the flat is “easy” changing to “glacial” or “incredible snail” on the hills, whether going up or down. This means that I will continue to be a bit pragmatic about combining walking as much as possible and using the bus to preserve my health.

The wells have been interesting and all different. I had not anticipated the complexity and fascination of the stories surrounding the different paths. From inheritance disputes to looted monastery arches, to the industrial history of canals and railways… they have all sparked interest, a pause for thought and the realization that I can only write about a small part of it here.

Inspirations and aspirations

My experiences have been, above all, very enriching and have also allowed me to reflect on how time passes and we will all be forgotten one day.

I haven’t managed to meet any harpists yet, so that’s my main aspiration for the next phase of my travels.

My wonderful friend B’s technical support in implementing these blogs has been skillful and patient. THANK YOU.

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