Beeches Farm to Avonmouth – down the What and Eight Valleys

No breakfast again as I set off before 9am and headed south towards Chepstow. Another lovely morning and it was warm again and sunny. Looking back from the campsite the view was good. An excellent place to camp.

On my way out I cleaned my teeth, washed my hands and face and reached around for a towel. Standing in front of me was John, a young German lad me and Debs had talked to on a few occasions en route. We had a bit of a natter and then split. He was going round to Minehead to do the South West Coast Path but needed to stop off in Chepstow to buy a new smart phone. He’d washed his in a sink and it had brock. He swore he’d done it many times before and it was ok. Not now John.

The track was fast and I made good time. Stopping for breakfast before Chepstow and carrying on to spot the River Severn and the bridge across it through a gap in the trees.

Chepstow was a great town, roasting in the midday sun.

Crossing the River Wye the castle looked fantastic.

And heading up through town the pedestrian high street was impressive. 

I cut off east towards the motorway bridge over both the Wye and the Severn and dropped downhill for a mile or two. The bridge has a walkway and I spanned it. Two miles across and no more Welsh language. 

The Wye finally flowed under the bridge into the sea.

And joining it was the mighty Severn, with the last vestiges of Offa’s magnificent 1200 year old defensive line running down to the bank on the left of this photo.

Goodbye Wales. It’s been a gas. Hello England.

The route cut down the coast to Avonmouth, and after 3 miles it revealed the new bridge.

Looking forward was the industrial hub of Avonmouth Docklands with the offices that I worked in 35 years ago, in a role that I secured after three long years as a semi-skilled machinist in steelworks. I was 23 and I got my first office job as Assistant in an industrial relations consultancy. In 6 years I was Director. Great times.

I met my mates Chris and Rob in the Miles Arms and we had a good natter and a laugh. This is them at the front after getting soaked in Swindon at a Bristol Rovers match, in a launderette, swigging beer and drying out their clothes. The match was abandoned due to rain and they made the national press.

Good lads. I found my Airbnb and got my head down. A good day capped by meeting good friends.

Night night.