Grandma Goes Coastal: Barry to Cardiff September 01, 2017

Taxi pick-up at 6:45 at the cute little Hay Loft to ride to Barry whence to start the walk to Cardiff. In the cool, no, make that cold, rainless morning, I was treated to a number of South Wales best four and two lane highways, all of which had sidewalks. Since it was neither hot nor pouring, who could complain? What I could complain about were some horrid fields full of thorns, thistles and other growth that had to be crossed, so complain I will since my legs are still stinging. But it was a flat 16 mile walk, easy....except for those horrid fields.

Navigated my way through the sizeable city of Cardiff to the luxurious B&B/hotel where I am camped out for four nights. Two rest days were scheduled for Cardiff, and then the next stop was supposed to be Newport (unlike the Newport in Rhode Island, this one is not so nice), but since the B&B there never got back to me when I tried to make arrangements for the luggage drop off and the property is up for sale, I thought that maybe they had gone out of business (they have not), so will stay here an extra night and do another of those need-a-taxi-to-the-start-point-after-the-next-stage arrangements that have dominated the walk since Mumbles. Besides, I have a frig here, there is a modest grocery store a half mile away, the hotel people are very nice, and the shower alone is worth the price of the very big room.

It is always gratifying to learn something:

Stone bench set into stone wall:

Wooden bench with inscription:

modest wooden bench with coastal markers, which could be put to better use in places like horrible fields (see above) to tell you that, yes, you are going to trip on roots and undergrowth, and yes, you have to bushwack your way through, after which you will be picking burrs off your pants and socks for some time, BUT, it is the right way!