DAY 2 - Monmouth to Llangatock
Sunday 15th May 1983
miles/8¼ hours

The wetness of everything made striking camp a sticky business and the putting on of wet, cold boots, socks and trousers didn't help, but I was away and warming up by 7:45am. Though the morning was fine, rain trousers were needed to meet the attacks of the very wet vegetation and splashing mud. Conditions for walking were often quite ghastly especially where cattle had been let onto soft, wet fields. The way marking was pretty good, but, at one point two arrows pointing different ways cost me a mile. I paused at one point to release a ewe and lamb hopelessly caught in the meshes of an electric net fence. At Llantilio Crossenny (SO 397 149) I quaffed a pint at the Hostry Inn and ate what they called faggots, with peas. Four Welshmen were playing crib for money; fruit machines were clanging and clattering and darts was in full swing - and this on a Sunday, mind you - in Welsh Wales!! I telephoned my spouse from here, to our mutual delight. Leaving the village with a more or less full belly I continued on my way for about a mile uphill to where White Castle (SO 377 160) stands high upon a commanding hill - a typically Norman ruin, in fair condition -for a ruin!- around which I took a stroll. It has a keep and five towers and an outer bailey and a good moat. Legs were, by 4pm getting tired so I decided to camp early and try to get dried out a bit. The weather today started grey but gradually improved. I found a house at Llangatock (SO 363 200) doing camping. Grass was mown, the views superb and the hot shower just like paradise. The sun shone, a fresh breeze blew and much drying was achieved.
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