The big 3-0 #20 Glamorgan coastal walk

Firstly, I want to say massive Kudos to Gareth Phillips. Gareth has recently just completed walking the ENTIRE welsh coastal path. Over two months he walked a gazillion miles, all on his own, with a bit of tarp as his tent. That is mega hardcore. I have been having palpitations about walking 15 miles for almost a year!

I love walking, as I don't drive I walk everywhere. All joking aside, I actually thought this would be a bit of a breeze. My husband and I were actually going to up the ante and walk Porthcawl to Penarth over two days stopping off at Llantwit Major for a night in between. We had arranged the whole thing but our plans were smashed to smithereens when we discovered that not a single campsite would allow us to camp for just one night due to the bank holiday it was a three night stay minimum. I refused to just put a tent up anywhere as I have a severe fear of getting in trouble with the police.

After much procrastinating my husband and I decided that - as we had a child-free day and I had booked the day off work - we would combine our much needed holiday shopping day with a hefty walk. The new plan was set we would walk to Cardiff from Penarth do our shopping and walk home. Piece. Of. Cake.

Then the rain came, stupid rain!

We set off early. I felt ropey after not having the best sleep thanks to my eldest daughter vomiting all over the place but there was no other opportunity to do this so armed with an umbrella and a bucket full of enthusiasm we started our journey.

 

 Pont-Y-Werin bridge, my Mum's boat is amongst those moored there.

Twenty minutes in, my husband had never seen these parts before

 On the Cardiff side of the water now

Entering Cardiff Town Centre now- Brains Brewery is so iconic to us. There is always a faint smell of hops around this area. 

 Amazing street art on Penarth Road

We had no entered Cardiff town Centre. We had to cross over to the top end as my hubs wanted to get his hair cut. We went in a few shops, got some clothes for holiday then headed towards the eatery area of St. David's 2 shopping centre. I bumped into an old friend Richie with his parents. I used to live opposite him and it was so incredible to see him. He said he had been reading my blog so I thought I would give him a mention. I wish I had taken a photo of us. Hubs and I then went for lunch. I was cold and tired so of course, a jacket spud with cheese and beans sounded like heaven and my god, it was! 

 Food was gone and we started our journey home. I seriously regretted sitting down and eating now.

 The rain got heavier and the two of us had to huddle under my tiny umbrella. we weren't impressed! Neither was my fringe!

 Entering Cardiff Bay area. Home seemed close.

 Took a few minutes of shelter under Cardiff Millennium Centre. Such an impressive building.

 Merchant's ship War memorial. I was lagging. we had both started to whinge a bit so this was a bit of a sobering moment. I have no idea how all those men did all those things for us. We have it so easy compared to them and because of them. We are all in debt to all those brave soldiers.

 I spy Penarth

 The sails on Cardiff Barrage for Captain Scott. Pretty incredible that he started his journey in these waters.

 Just as we got to the Penarth end the bloody gates closed to let the boats through. Stopping for 15 minutes was just the worst so close to the end of our journey.

 The engineering of this bridge is incredible.

 Made it up the huge mountain (hill, whatever!) and saw our entire route before us. Felt pretty good.

 Home. My legs died.

 Just over twenty miles walked. That's a pretty cool accomplishment. It was fun. It would've been better if the weather hadn't been so rubbish.

 

 

Another one off my list. My legs hurt today - Loads!