We headed straight past the Half Moon pub at Llanthony (which felt odd) and headed up the overgrown and wild looking path up to Bal Mawr. We've walked and camped these parts once before but with the light fading fast it took us a moment to locate our spot.
As we rounded the ridge we managed to surprise some wild horses and their young foal who at one stage looked as though they might run at us. Fortunately for me Paul is slower than me so I had a plan if things got nasty!
We found our break in the heather, pitched and got the food on as the light faded to the west. At one point I noticed a single light rising really fast against the opposite ridge and we were quite unsure as to what could ascend a hill that fast. Moments later as we stood to work out what the hell was going on, the flickering light left the ridge and carried straight on skyward until it faded into the night. Baffled, we just stood looking at each other until suddenly there were about 20 more all setting off from what we though was Llanthony Priory. We finally worked out that they were Chinese Lanterns and not sheep carrying lanterns! We sat and chatted outside til around 1am making the most of the lightest of breezes and the clear starry sky.
I woke this morning at a very leisurely 7.15am which is very unlike me. The pitch isn't particularly comfy so I can only thank Glenlivet for that. The sound of light rain on the tent is all I needed to keep me inside for a while longer. Paul, I think, is unconscious and so I'll take great pleasure in waking him in a mo with the old angry farmer routine. The plan is to head south along the ridge to Bal Bach and then descend through the forest to Cwmyoy for lunch and a pint. All being well we're thinking about then heading back north and the Offas Dyke Path before descending back down to Llanthony. Now though, nature calls but I'll send this when I get a bloody signal!
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