Day 61 - Overton Bridge to Farndon

Back to our full complement for the next couple of days, although no immediate plans for Gary to do the sections he missed on days 59 and 60. Early start, with everyone getting to Birmingham shortly after 8:00. Unfortunately, due to lack of admin coordination during the preceding few weeks, neither Ben/Gary nor John is aware of their similar arrival times at New Street and arrangements have been made to meet not there but at Stafford. Track side problems delay this rendezvous - and the onward journey to Crewe/Chester - by half an hour or so but eventually, and courtesy of Colin from Chester station, we reach the pub at Overton Bridge (which is summarily eschewed) and are "on piste" just before 11:30. For the most part, a wholly unremarkable day's walking under grey skies along an ill-defined and largely non-signposted route. It seems that John is constantly having to consult the logger to determine the direction we should be taking across what prove to be rather wet fields. Also, very little is seen of the Dee itself which keeps meandering, in a series of U-bends, away from the walk, and/or is shielded by embankments. And when it does come into view, its level seems surprisingly low. So perhaps just three points of anything approaching note. First, a brief and early pit stop at the Royal Oak just outside Bangor-on-Dee for beer and crisps during which it is established that the time previously given by John for today's sunset is about 35 minutes later than actual sunset, so we'll need to get a wiggle on to reach Farndon before nightfall. Secondly, we get a good view of Bangor-on-Dee racecourse, and realise that it's the first currently used racecourse (i.e. excluding the former Kington racecourse on day 55) which we've seen during all of our days walking. And thirdly, despite the efficiency of the logger, we take the wrong route across one particular field and, in trying to rejoin the so-called path, we cross a grassy area which is so wet that we occasionally sink to almost knee level. As a result, Ben's and Gary's socks and feet become exceedingly damp - a fate from which John is saved by his "fetching" puttees. However, in the final hour of the day on the approach to Holt, we at long last join a path alongside the river which eventually brings us to the bridge in Farndon from where it's only a short stroll up the High Street to our overnight resting place, imaginatively called The Farndon. A cheery welcome from the owner includes the opportunity to start drying our footwear in front of a log fire whilst we take on board the first beer of the evening. The owner certainly likes to chat, but some of his rather confused comments about the local beers lead us to question how much of the chat has any foundation! When we mention the low level of the Dee, he says that a period of heavy rainfall (which occurred over the weekend) doesn't affect this stretch of the river for about 36 hours. We'll be able to test the accuracy of this tomorrow. In the meantime, baths and showers (John's shower apparently not of the highest standard) and good food and wine are followed by a comfortable night.