I can report with a tired body that I completed The Cambrian Way on Wed 23rd Jun after 25 walking days since 19 May. This, my 3rd CW walk, was probably the hardest, as a result of the transport logistics I employed.
Here is a brief report:
CAMBRIAN MY WAY
I took a couple R&R breaks, first caused by weather and then fatigue. Once back in mid-Wales, I kept going, taking a couple single days off to position the bike and sort a van wing-mirror problem. The weather did help, with little further suggestion that I needed a weather break. In addition to the 300 miles of the walk, I cycled 510 miles and the campervan covered 1560 miles. Simplistically, each walk stage required 3 van journeys, 1 bike journey and 1 walk journey, though I varied according to campsite location and practicality of road or bike journey (with/without rucksack) variations. To accommodate the bike journeys, I spent 2 nights in mountain summit Shelters, which provided sunset and sunrise experiences. I avoided unplanned benightment (a couple during my 2011 journey). Physically, I lost 10lbs in weight, though I never went hungry, always having enough food on the hill (slab fruit cake /oatcakes/cheese compact to carry, easiest to prepare daily and eat) and enjoying decent meals in the van. A late evening beer provided re-hydration after copious cuppas. On most stops I used established campsites, so had facilities with electric for the van, though I was prepared for no power. Some days started at 06:30 and finished at 02:00 and covered a 10-12hr combined walk/cycle day. The one single feature that enabled my success could have been time of year, as I had daylight till past 22:00 and was often cycling into late evening.
Whilst I had my personal reasons for wanting to walk the Cambrian Way for the 3rd time (50th anniversary after my 1st walk in 1971 and 2nd in 2011), I had to face the issue of advancing years, now 74, and Covid restrictions to overcome. These suggested using the campervan and bike as logistics support vehicles. I also had sad reasons for the walk, having lost my mountain companion of 50 years and wife of 46 years, Shirley, to pancreatic cancer last year in April. By carrying her ashes throughout the walk, I gained strength and conviction. It also provided me with an incentive to raise funds for the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, whose home care team supported both Shirley and me last year.
You can support Sue Ryder on the following JG link:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Stephen-Poulton
