July 01 Welshpool +Berriew

When I planned the Offa's Dyke walk, this day was supposed to be devoted to backtracking to the place where we didn't walk because of the whole no-hotel-on-Sunday+hard-to-get-a taxi issue so as not to lose a stage of the ODP.  Instead, Alex came up with a plan. "There is a sculpture Museum in Berriew, a five mile walk along the Canal."  "Sounds great!"  Of course, we couldn't set out until 10:30, so that gave me time to explore.  First I headed out to Buttington where we pick up the trail tomorrow.  The first stretch was fine, walking through town or along the tow path, but then a stint on a most major road, which, thank God, had either a shoulder or a sidewalk.  I did not go all the way to Buttington.  Sometimes enough is enough.  The roar of huge trucks, motor bikes, and speeding cars  is something else when you are walking right beside them. Even though you are not in danger (because of the sidewalk or shoulder) it is a jolt every time one of these vehicles go whizzing by, which is every two seconds.

Back in Welshpool, I did a little walking tour.  One place I had especially wanted to stop in was The Little Welsh Bakery, and the name, intentionally or not, is quite literal as only one customer can fit inside at a time.  It sold only four loaves of bread, some brownie-like treats and a few pastries.  You can see them in the window:

Passing this sturdy ad, I thought, "I am so lucky I do not have to eat breakfast at a gas station in Welshpool."

The town's Market Hall was open for business.  It gave a whole new meaning to shlock and tschatchkes:

Bananagrams anyone?

Our walk along the Canal was lovely

Another cautionary sign.  There are many of these.  It seems that people have a tendency to cast their lines REALLY HIGH and hit a wire:

The museum was just off the path.  From the first moment until almost three hours later, we were dazzled by the creations.  At alexandalexacrossamerica.wordpress.com you will read all about the artist, Andrew Logan, his work, AND our experience meeting him. 

I will just show a few of my favorite pieces, like this woman, who, if you give her skirt a poke, dances around and moves her head and all.  A sheer delight.   What the photo does not capture are all the myriad details of jewelry and such with which she is decorated:

THIS lady cut off her own head!  See her swinging it aloft?  

There were lots of crowns Alex and Alex will tell you why:

This terrific guy, who, to me, looks like Harry Styles is wearing a skirt of grass (astroturf, actually).  His shirt is meant to represent the sky and clouds:

My most favorite of all the pieces were the fifteen feet high lilies:

They reminded me of Chihuly's work a bit.

We contemplated walking back but opted for walking about the town and taking the bus back to Welshpool, where we ate dinner in an Indian restaurant, our first eat-out meal so far.  I am not sure it was better than our cobbled together grocery store fare, but it was nice to have the time to discuss the things we had seen and had so thoroughly enjoyed.