Log No 240. Sun 9th Feb 2014 - Newport to Caldicot, 17 miles (3678 miles walked)

It was grey and wet when I started at 08.00 on a route very similar to yesterday.

I headed for the first bridge over the River Usk, the Transporter Bridge, but it was closed. It has probably never been used since the bridge for the A48 was constructed in 2004.

It wasn't much of a detour to take the A48 bridge instead.

Straight over the bridge I took the minor road south, the rain was coming down heavier now but coming from the southwest it wasn't going to be in my face.

At the end of the road a cycleway took me west to join up with another minor road. I passed a Wales Coast Path sign heading to the Wetlands which I ignored, staying on the road as far as Goldcliff.

I was back on the WCP here and like yesterday it was all walking on top of the embankment by the shore.

It was just after 10.00 and so I had covered these first 8 miles in good time and with 9 miles to to the railway station at Caldicot I might manage to catch the 13.07 train instead of the 15.10. A 2 hour wait for a train or bus is always a big incentive to get a move on.

The path on the embankment was not too muddy and the wind behind me helped keep the pace up. I decided not to have any breaks, stopping just long enough to take a sandwich and chocolate biscuit out of my rucsac to eat on the move.

The rain stopped for about half an hour and after that it was frequent heavy squalls. I met a fisherman struggling into the wind and rain carrying all his gear, he shook his head saying "I must be mad". Welcome to the club!

A bit further on I came across a chap filling a trailer with the storm tossed timber, his only complaint was that it was wet.

At an MOD rifle range the WCP came inland, crossing over the M4 and went right by the railway station At Caldicot, I had made it here with 10 minutes to spare, completing the 17 miles in under 5 hours.

It will be a short day tomorrow just to get to Chepstow and over the Old Severn Bridge for the M48, I can have a bit of a lie in and make full use of the facilities at this campsite.

I have hospitality in Bristol tomorrow, my cousin's sister-in-law, Susan, has offered to put me up for as long as I needed.