What a Day  -  Awesome Offas

Setting off at 6.30am yesterday to the village of Cilcain at the foot of the Clwydian hills, we couldn't help feeling that the cloudless sky was too good to last all day.  But last it did and a wonderful day out it was.  Open to Offas a Merseystride LDWA event has something for all with a 14m 21m and 30m on 'offa'.  Two years ago this event fell on a certain member of the Saturday Squad's 60th birthday and so we opted for the 21m route to be back to celebrate the birthday boy's event at Limbrick.  So this was our first go at the 'big one' and what a roller coaster it turned out to be.

A fantastic route - but a bit of a toughie with over 7,000ft of climbing (7,075 to be precise).  The views across the valley and to the Glyders and Snowdon were amazing.  The welcome sunshine did make some of the climbs a bit hard going, but the organisers made good provision, leaving additional water at strategic points on the route as well as the very well provisioned checkpoints.  We managed to keep the fluid levels topped up, although one of our compatriots, for a time, completely blew up as he had decided only to carry a cup and therefore was restricted to taking on fluid at the checkpoints, rather than filling a bottle for the climbs.  He finally drifted in over an hour behind us, in a pretty sorry state.  It was that sort of day really.

Offa's Dyke Path is one of twelve designated National Trails and it is the only national trail to follow a man-made feature. Built by Offa, King of Mercia in 757 to 796 AD the dyke formed the boundary between England & Wales, running 182 miles from Prestatyn in the north to Sedbury - from sea to shining sea.  We only followed a small part of it of course, but the full walk is another item for the wishlist and for when more time is available.

I was pleased with my time, just breaking the 7 hour barrier by recording 6hrs 57.  The last ten miles of the route brings all three routes back together and we passed quite a few folk from the other distances.  Having changed, caught up with everyone's news and had a good meal at the end we made our way back to the car for the journey home.   Three guys who had completed the 21m route were talking loudly and just as they were about to set off I heard one of them say   ..... 'them 30-milers, though, it's a different league!  I had to pinch myself to remind me that I was one of 'them 30-milers'.   That kick boxing's amazing - have I mentioned it?

NLN