Offas Dyke Day 8 Newcastle on Clun to Lower Shirley

Pictures Day 8
The day started with a white-out. The valley misted right over, tho the suggestion of a sunny day was there.
Breakfast dispatched, we got right onto the Dyke, as it was literally around the corner from the B and B.
Of course a hill was first on the agenda, a short sharp nasty one.

Eve and Margaret at the 1/2 way point

The reward was a sign that told us we had reached the half way point on the Dyke.
The mist was still pretty thick so pictures were pretty ordinary.
The first hill, Graig Hill, then leads to a fierce descent, which lead to another hard push back up another hill.
And that's how it was most of this day's walk.
The sun has broken through at last, and having worn short sleeves for the first time this trip, I use the sun block also for the first time this trip
We are walking along the Dyke almost all the time, and as I mentioned in previous posts it is an impressive earthwork.

First sunblock

In parts it has been badly eroded and some of the blame has been leveled at badgers digging burrows. They look very much like wombat holes, though I am told that there are no wombats in UK. Pity!
After another hard steep slippery descent we cross a miserable stream, Cwm Ffrydd and come across a pretty church and cemetery.
We having morning tea here, on a seat dedicated to a Mrs Davies. The church is appropriately in Churchtown, original idea.
The penalty for loitering is yet another hill, however at the top we see the long valley below that we will traverse on our next day.
At the top, we cross back into Wales, and play our usual game of stepping back and forth. Wales. England. Wales. England.
Bored with this childish game we had down our final hill.
The last few  kilometres are through flat farming land until suddenly we come across this vast caravan park, just stuck out in the middle of nowhere. There's no obvious reason why it is here, however there are lots and lots of well established mobile homes that look like they have never moved.
They have gardens, permanent attached patios, all battened down for winter.

Walk right through

Not far on from the caravans, we come to one of those delightful idiosyncrasies of the UK footpath system.

We walk right through someone's house. Well not through their back door and out the front, but pretty close -> .
It's now lunch time, our car with Sue attached is waiting, we we alight and head for Montgomery, a small town not far away.
Lunch is at the town castle, with a stunning view across the valley.

Our accommodation is run by Sheila who greet is in a pink bikini. She is ironing and absorbing the gammas out the back of her house. Once we are settled in, she is back to the board. Having finished that, she then gets out the mower and mows the lawn, all in aforesaid pink bikini.
Dinner is at the B and B and two birthdays are celebrated. Margaret and I share 28th September.