Saturday August 17 2024

Usually most walkers have a rest day at the next stop in Llangollen. However, as we had our connections here in Chirk (and we felt we had “done” Llangollen) we elected to have our day here.

Chirk was where Paul worked as a General Practice trainee before we moved to Fort St John. Rob and Judy Greaves were tow of his preceptors so it was lovely to be able to stay with them and spend time at their lovely house. And to admire their solar and battery array!

To use some different muscles we had intended to head into Chirk proper for a swim but messed up the time. So we instead enjoyed a coffee and walked back to Rob and Judy’s house along a different public path. 

Again, curiously, I think this was the first time we walked the full length of the aqueduct.

In the afternoon Robert, sensing my bitter disappointment at not seeing the standing stone ( and possibly indulging his own curiosity to see it) took us back to visit it.

I was impressed. I think Lori was impressed with her decision to not double back.

The relaxing day was rounded off with an enjoyable group dinner with several of Lori’s former work colleagues  at the local Indian Restaurant. Kerry, Paul and Jude had come down from Manchester, Anne Hendrie up from Oswestry and even Steve Winter (who Lori had not seen for 30 years) joined us. He fortuitously lived so close by such that we would be walking past his house on the trail.

Our departure point the following day was to be just up the Ceriog Valley at Castle Mill. It is the one place that the Welsh defeated the English in Battle when Owain Glendwr defeated Henry II’s forces in 1165

The Welsh have long memories.