The Big walking challenge!

The challenge is how to get from Brechfa village to the Post Office in Gwyddgrug. On Wednesday, a husband and wife will be heading off in different directions as each tries to access the Post Office service as recommended in the recent document announcing the closures and changes in Carmarthenshire.

The current arrangement in Brechfa is a post office counter housed in the Brechfa Community Shop for 14 hours a week including a Saturday morning, which is when it is busiest. The Post Office network change is recommending an Outreach van to be parked for 1 ¼ hours by the village hall for four weekdays per week which does not include a Saturday. The nearest alternative service offered is across the Llanllwni Mountain at Gwyddgrug. Caroline Evans, Secretary of the Community Association said “There is no bus service to Gwyddgrug and at times in the winter it is unsafe to drive across. This is another example of the withdrawal of rural services by people who do not know the reality of living in the welsh countryside."

Mary and John Price will be trying to get to the Gwyddgrug Post Office in different ways. John will be walking across the mountain and Mary will be travelling by the bus which runs twice a week to Carmarthen and then catch a further bus to Gwyddgrug. Whichever is home the sooner will cook supper.

 

Half - way update from Fay

The John and Mary challenge has gone to plan so far - John set a cracking pace on the pull out of Brechfa and made the fingerpost by the trig point in 1hour 10mins!

John was walking down from New Inn to Gyddgrug when he was passed by the bus from which Mary had just alighted!

Carol greeted everyone with a cup of tea and warm chocolate cake.

John will, by now, be well on his way home (12.30) - if not home already! And no doubt he will be planning what to cook for Marys' dinner.

Mary, however, is facing a long wait in Carmarthen as her bus doesn't leave until after 5pm.

Jo took some wonderful photos of John on his lonely traverse across the mountain, as well as some on the main road and more in Gwyddgrug Post Office. I'll print out a set for a display for the shop for Saturday and keep an eye on the site for updates. David has the photos of Mary on the bus and waiting for the next bus at the bus station. Rachael will be taking some of a weary Mary getting of the bus in Brechfa, and of their dinner on the table.

Fay