Support Team Report - Day Seven

I was awoken in the early hours of this morning by a flock of birds fighting around my tent. Why they choose my tent at 5am I didn't know, but there they were squabbling, pecking, flapping and landing on the top hoop of my tent poles. I couldn't be bothered to do anything about them at that time in the morning and decided to leave them at it: maybe they would go away of their own accord. When suddenly my tent was hit by a two inch square block of what I could only describe as cheese. I could see it there, above me, silhouetted against the morning sky. So I batted it with the back of my hand and sent it flying and the birds scattering. I opened my tent door flap to see what it was and yes, there it was on the floor, a block of blue veined cheese!

The night before, in the Oxford Arms, Simon had had a cheese platter for his puddling but there was just too much to eat and so had wrapped three blocks of cheese in serviettes to take back to the tent to have for breakfast. On returning to the lawn where we were camping Simon had put the cheese down on top of the fence whilst he negotiated the gate and forgot about the cheese. A fine feast was awaiting the early bird!

Simon was awoken by Ester, the lady who's lawn we were camping on, with a cup of tea. Simon isn't used to being served a cup of tea in bed in to morning but he sure warmed to it very quickly and wanted to stay. I think Heaven for Simon is sleeping on Esters lawn just a few yards from the Oxford Arms.

Most of the day was spent travelling on buses again and when we arrived in Hay there was quite a steep climb up a hill to the campsite. The walk did go along part of the ODP so we have done a little Dyke walking today, although I'm not going to include the 400 yards in any personal tally.

Eating at the Blue Boar in Hay-on-Wye this evening. Very high prices considering the amount of food served. So after eating we moved on down to the Rose and Crown where they were more set up for locals than tourists.

We haven't arranged tomorrow's travel yet so we will see what comes along in the morning. Hopefully it will be bird and cheese free.

Richard.

The first thing I am going to do, after sleeping on a bed that isn't the floor, is to collate all the bus and taxi info! I reckon writing a travel guide for the damaged should be a best seller for all those poor injured Dykers who still want to take part. Thanks for the idea Linda.

Simon.

Location:Hay-on-Wye