Wales Coast Path- Chester to Flint

I do love the buildings in Chester, so many gothic revival, tudor, roman and art deco styles to be discovered all around, a visual feast. I found some cool murals on BT cabinets- I didn't know that this is what they were called, It was only after I searched 'Chester City art on electrical covers' that I discovered that this is part of a project. Apparently there are 10 in total, it is part of the Chester Designed by Nature campaign, and I got really excited when I saw the ones I did, brightened my mood right up! I didn't follow the trail as I didn't know it existed, but would next time I go back to Chester. Here are the 3 I found by accident as they were just on the path I was on.

I took my time wandering through this section of the walk, I haven't really walked along the canal or walls on this side of Chester, normally heading straight to the centre. The alltrails map showed the walk going along the canal, but I couldn't seem to work out how to join the path down, so I wandered for a few moments and noted the Roman wall runs along the side of the canal- up high obviously! So decided this was a beautiful way to follow the canal until I found a way down. 

The sun was shining, my mood was jubilant, I was feeling so good. I knew the length of the walk was more than the book said, alltrails was saying around 14miles rather than the 12 3/4miles the book said. Great length for a training walk either way, I don't think the book takes into account how you get to the cathedral, I started tracking from the train station- only fair I think. Here are more photos of the stroll along the walls and down to the canal. 

I crossed over the fancy looking bridge that lifts to allow the canal boats to come through, the views from those flats must be great. This was all quite straightforward and easy, love the red boat shaped building, but cannot remember what it is used for, tried googling but I must be pants as I couldn't find it then either, ah well. I took so many photos at this section, less as the walk went on haha. I headed across some roads and could finally see the River Dee. Very excited to find the start to the path, so many cool things to take photos of.

I planned my entertainment for this walk, downloading the newest episode of Crime Junkie and Uncanny, which are great podcasts. Once I got to the river, I decided to save Uncanny for a bit later and played my outdoors playlist on Spotify. This includes Mogli, Taylor Swift, Static X and Chappell Roan, I picked the songs that make my brain feel happy so this is a great playlist for bopping along a river in beautiful weather! The path is well sign posted all along here, though I did walk over a bridge I didn't need to by accident as I followed the wrong sign, doh! Ah well, not much of a detour. This did happen a couple more times- I wish alltrails could be on the screen of your phone when locked, or would vibrate (like google maps does when your walking) to let you know of a change in route. Maybe they do and I just haven't worked it out yet? I drop my phone way to often to be walking with it constantly!

One review I read of this route said that the big bridge you can see, just doesn't get any closer over the 6 miles you are walking towards it, and this was true! Made me giggle at this point, tried to take a selfie pointing to it, but just off. Directly below is the bridge I decided to cross whilst following a completely different sign- there was no excuse here. And you can just make out the giant white bridge, but my finger is definitely pointing below it, I am a millennial, we don't understand photos like the younger generations!

It is a long, long route along the riverside, but honestly, I would walk it again tomorrow. Especially in the bright winter sun, with the clouds looking super fancy and dramatic. Would love to know if there is a story behind the little rowing boat just on the riverbank, or what the dock like places are, presumably they are no longer in use, or maybe in high tide they are? And the old jetty like parts just sat in the water looking decrepit but interesting. I walked past the blue bridge, before going over the white bridge which was also the railway line! This area was getting busier again as it is near a town, nice to see people all enjoying the weather.

It was around this point I was getting some quite frustrating discomfort in both feet- I rang my dad at mile 7 to update him and let him know how I was getting on- I had kept up a really good pace for this section and he was impressed at how far I had gone! But the discomfort was constant, all along the outside of my left foot, the ball of my right foot, and a slight rubbing on my little toe on the right foot. Mega annoyed, as I have walked worse terrain for similar distances but had no issues- why feet, why? I had decided to walk until mile 10 and then have lunch, but decided as my feet were getting worse, I would stop at the next lot of benches I found. But, of course, this next section, through a lovely little woodland, had no darn benches! There had been so many along the river, I just presumed that coastal path was thinking of us needing frequent breaks and would continue with frequent seating.

Mood was definitely dropping now, I find mental strength is the hardest part of any of these walks/challenges that I am doing. I am trying so hard to break through the brain, watching a lot of ultramarathons on YouTube and the way they just keep going is mind blowing. I found a bench at 9.25miles, parked my butt and the sun went away, the clouds went grey and I got rained on (ok, it was so light it was barely rain, but still) as I had my lunch. Took my walking trainers off to rearrange the socks and tighten the laces etc to see if it would help. Had a triple cheese sandwich and vimto if anyone is interested (three half sandwiches with cheese and tomato, cheese and pickle and another type of cheese), it is weird, but when I am walking I find it really hard to eat, I just don't feel hungry so I made myself eat these and drink, then felt a bit sick after. This has been the way for as long as I can remember, so before Mounjaro days, I have always struggled to sit and have food when out, always prefer to eat once the walk is finished! The Mounjaro definitely makes me fuller quicker as well, so important to try and stay well hydrated and fed, especially when I am expecting my body to do so much. 

I had about 10minutes for my lunch break, putting my trainers back on made me want to cry and I was walking so ridiculously slowly and limping once they were back on. I needed a boost, so I rang my mum! We chatted about how I was getting on, I told her my feet made me want to cry and I just needed distracting to get going, mum was great and I did feel better- mentally not physically, which meant I could cope with the pain more and my pace increased as my feet got used to being walked on again. This was an interesting part of the path, Connah's Quay, it is a big town and I was very grateful to see a garage where I could go for a wee! Bladder was very full by this time. Some interesting items along the way, love the mural on a wall (above), bouys, an anchor and the very jazzy bike path sign.

The biggest problem I have with the coast path, is that there are road sections. This whole section to Flint was along busy roads, this did mean my brain found it harder to be distracted from the feet discomfort, I felt really quite sad and disheartened. Sounds dramatic right? But, this is all so new to me, my brain and my body, I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster by this point. Popped Uncanny on, Danny Robbins is a great storyteller and interviewer so this was what I needed to try and help keep me going. I did ring husband on this section, I just felt I needed to have a conversation with him, but he didn't answer! How rude! Not going to lie, I was in a constant fight with my brain at this point- just give up, get your dad or husband to come pick you up, you can't do this, you are stupid to think you can get fit, you will never manage a marathon'. This is the tame version of the fight. 

One nice thing, the tiny rain and grey clouds hadn't followed me, so this was much nicer weather wise. I knew I was on the final section now, just had to make it to Flint and follow the route onto the marshy coastal area, and then the castle wouldn't be too far away! I was walking through Flint itself and hadn't seen any coastal path signs, turned out I had missed the bloody turning. I looked on the map and it looked like I could go over the railway bridge towards a caravan park, and then follow a path which would link be back up. I could have just carried on going, and joined the path further up, but I felt like I was cheating some how if I did that. Husband rang as I was following this footpath, which devolved from cut and passable to insane and brambly. I had to turn back on myself and I was so upset! If I had just turned back in the first place, I would have been on the bloody path. Anyways, I moaned to husband who listened and was supportive, found my way to the path, walked over the railway line (it is a person crossing, but they terrify me, what if it is a silent train??) and got onto the marsh land. I also want to point out, I am pretty sure I did not see an actual coast path sign to direct me to this part, or if they were there, they blended in.