Sunday, July 29, 2012 – Hay-on-Wye to Much Wenlock

Today was one of those very special days you remember forever.  It started with an email from Erik—you may remember him as one of the walkers I first met on the Pennine Way last year, and with whom I walked for 3 days until he left the Pennine Way at Tan Hill.  Erik is from the Netherlands, and his email said that he and his wife, Margeret, were in Hay-on-Wye!! 

Surprising Reunion

What are the odds that we would be in the same small Welsh town on the same day??  I quickly made contact and Janet and I shared good memories together with Erik and Margeret over coffee.  Erik obtained permission from his hotel for me to show him and Margeret my now world-famous slide show on its TV.  It was a delightful, if rather short, reunion.

After saying goodbye to Erik and Margeret, Janet and I set off for Kington, Knighton and Craven Arms.  At Knighton I pointed out the restaurant where I had stumbled upon Bob and Pam after meeting them on the trail last year. 

At Craven Arms, we toured the 13^th fortified manor house known as Stokesay Castle.  Jack Frost had toured it last year, and gave it a high recommendation.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time or energy to tour it last year, so made up for it this year.  Last week, at Stonehenge, Janet and I purchased an English Heritage membership, allowing us free entry into all the English Heritage properties.  Stokesay Castle is one of those properties, and we have already saved more in entry fees to English Heritage sites than the cost of membership fee, and we are barely 10 days into our 6 week trip.  The membership has proved to be a good buy.

Pam, Bob, Margeret, Lost-a-lot, Janet & Erik

We arrived in Much Wenlock in late afternoon, staying at the same B&B I stayed in last year.  We concluded the evening with dinner at a local pub, with Erik, Margeret, Bob and Pam all joining us.   As you might guess, we had a cracking good time.

(c) 2012 Ken Klug