Warmth from the Hearth: "I find television very educating. Every time someone turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." ~ Groucho Marx

Found a little cafe in town with free wifi so am taking advantage until they kick me out. Andrew has gone for an amble around town to visit the numerous bookshops they have here. Hay-on-Wye is known as the book capital of the world and they host a week long international book festival here every year. Up to 250,000 descend on this little town in Wales, taking in special speakers and perusing the many books for sale.
We travelled by train on Tuesday fromYork to Hay-on-Wye, missing our connection in Birmingham, so had to wait an extra 50 minutes, getting us to our destination around supper. We were tuckered and opted for a meal across the street. We then meandered around this sweet little place to get our bearings and were fortunate to have the laundrette just around the corner. We washed and dried just enough clothes to get us home on Monday.
Wednesday was a relaxed day and Andrew was anxious to poke around in the bookshops to see what treasures could be had. I ended up with the best treasure though, Cornishware!!! And they gave me a deal as they were trying to clear it out. Not sure how I'm going to get it home, but pretty sure it will be on my lap or near my feet on the plane. So very excited to get it home, washed and make my morning porridge!
Today started very rainy. We wanted to hike to Hay Bluff (a ~15 km route) but the weather sure wasn't cooperating. So we went to the local market, came back to our nest and decided to head out around 9:30. The weather hadn't settled yet, but we've been feeling a bit hike deprived, so set out on the Offa Dyke Path. We didn't make it to the top and the pictures will explain why.
Off to enjoy a plate of haddock and mash tonight and then a quiet evening as we prepare for our second to the last leg of our trip, a long train ride to Ambleside in the Lake District tomorrow. We will end our trip with a final burst of hiking in this beautiful countryside.

This is our little red door cottage we booked for 3 nights. Very narrow and small but quaint and quirky at the same time. It's been the perfect spot, walking distance to town but on a very busy road. We don't hear much at night though (I think because we're so knackered!).

Very steep, narrow steps leading to the back garden of our 'home'.

Indicative of the streets in Hay-on-Wye. So very pretty.

Who needs posts in the stairways, when you can recycle old bicycle chains and gears! Not sure about the 2 splotches of paint on the wall - couldn't decide on the colour?

If you take a closer peek, the complete set of red leather, 16 volumes of Charles Dickens is 400 pounds, almost $700.00!!

A stairway in one of the bookshops. My grandchildren would love it here. So much to take in.

There was a whole room dedicated to Penguin books.

The Poetry Bookshop - so many books!!

Andrew's first scotch egg. Didn't look too appealing to me, so I had a coronation chicken sandwich instead.

We thought it was a 'gentleman's club' but found out it was a less expensive place to have our supper and the food was good.

Clock tower at the centre of town - it's a place with streets going every which way. Not a great place for those directionally challenged.

Hay-on-Wye in the distance - we climbed quite steadily.

Well this was a slog - tried to stay out of the running river to my right, but still soaked my boots!

Panoramic vista from our walk today.

Another pretty view near the top. See that low hanging cloud?

You can barely make out Hay Bluff in the distance. Cloud cover prevented us from going all the way.

Getting closer to the top and the weather still isn't improving.

Could almost reach up and touch the grey clouds.

And just in case you haven't seen enough cute sheep pictures. Charlotte, a lot of the sheep in this field had a turquoise blue paint on their back. There were some with orange and some with black as well.