Offa’s Dyke Path – Day 12

Looking out the window early in the morning

Offa’s Dyke Path – Day 12 – Clywd Gate to Bodfari

When I looked out of the window early in the morning I gasped and then hoped that things would improve – they didn’t and we faced a very damp day of walking from peak to peak in the Clwydian Range. Accommodation was at the Rhesgoed Isa Cottage but our hostess claimed that she had no control over the weather! The weather finely got to us.  We awoke to dense fog and very limited visibility. As we left the B&B this AM, I think that we all muttered a few unkind words about the weather. We would be spending the day walking high up in the Clwydian Range, that portion of the Offa’s Dyke Path advertised as “On a clear day you can see all the way to …”  For us, it was just a matter of keeping to the trail and keeping the hiking partner in sight.  The Australians waved us on our way early on  in the day, themselves preferring a bit more leisurely climbing pace.  They were never far behind and, from time to time, they could hear us and not see us (and vice versa) and passed us high in the hills when we missed a signpost in the dense fog and carried on uphill on an incorrect trail rather than taking a downward path.

Two Australians looking forward to a damp day.

Spider webs describe conditions well

Fog and rain would be with us for the whole day

On a clear day you could see for miles.

Sheep – often seen but not heard on this day of fog, mist and rain. Pretty eery hearing the sheep “baa”ing off in the distance on a foggy rainy day like this.
Sheep - often seen but not heard on this day of fog, mist and rain.

More than once, I learned the hard way that these are slippery when wet.
Slippery when wet.

Offa's Dyke Path heading somewhere

Everything was wet and we had no idea how many ups and downs there might be ahead of us before we would reach the summit of the day’s journey.

Everything wet as we worked our way to the day's summit.

The rain in ....

We missed this signpost and headed further uphill the first time past it. The Australians were a bit further back and could hear us but not see us. When they got to the signpost they also almost missed it but the fog lifted for a moment or two and they correctly headed downhill not sure where we were. Discussion of the moment brought a few chuckles at the B&B later the same day.
Tough to see the signposts on a very wet day

I made it to the remains of the Jubilee Tower at 554m on Moel Famau.
The remains of the Jubilee Tower mark the highest point of the day’s walk at 554m (1818ft). It was built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of George III. A storm in 1862 reduced the impressive Egyptian style monument to the base that can be seen today.

On a clear day …

By this point in the day’s walk, I decided that I had tested my camera’s weather seals enough for one day and put it in my day pack and concentrated on just walking the rest of the day’s path without falling down.

I made it to the remains of the Jubilee Tower at 554m on Moel Famau.

Bodfari, Wales: Nice to see civilization again after walking for a day in fog, mist and rain.
Bodfari, Wales

Shortly after we arrived at our B&B in Bodfari, the clouds cleared away and the sun shone brightly. Our Bodvari, Wales B&B host, Alex, was building some steps when we arrived. I was able to get his attention long enough to get water and a brush to clean the evidence of a sheep convention from my hiking boots and then offered to give him a hand. He let me get on with my macro photography instead. I didn’t protest too strongly :-).

Caught our host hard at work!

The B&B was surrounded by rock gardens teeming with bees, butterflies and other insects so I spent the afternoon well entertained with my macro lens working overtime.
Bodfari Sunshine
Caterpillar on stone - Bodfari, Wales

Busy Bodfari Bee

Butterfly in Bodfari, Wales

Bodfari Butterfly - Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui)

Green Shield bug - Palomena prasina - Bodfari, Wales

Green Shield bug - Palomena prasina

Hoverfly searching for the gold in Bodfari, Wales.

Poppy in the wind

Droplets on the web

Fly on my buttercup

Potato Flower

Bodfari Butterfly

Renovating the condo

Excellent food and the last time that all of our pairs of unaffiliated hikers got together on the trail for best wishes and a good meal before heading at our own pace on the final leg to Prestatyn.
Downing Arms, Bodfari, Wales

Excellent facility and hosts. The return of the sun, the collection of flower gardens around the house to supply me with lots of subjects for a bit of macro photography and the excellent supper we had at the Downing Arms, the local pub, all added to a wonderful Bodfari experience.
Bodfari B&B

About Ron

Ron has long had an interest in photography and traveling and, in recent years, has had more time to devote to both activities. Long a Pentax user, Ron switched to Nikon gear when he went digital. The advent of the digital SLR camera, and the ease of the internet blogging process, has provided a venue for sharing his photography and travel experience at the local, national and international level. More about Ron
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