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Ever wondered what would happen if you tried to walk in a completely straight line across an entire country? No? Well i did. I thought about it a lot in fact, and in the winter of 2018/19 I decided i'd give it a go.
2021
You're watching the first chapter of my third attempt to cross Wales in a completely straight line, and despite my hopefulness of a more boring, straight forward operation, this one is a thriller. Due to Greg's work commitments I am joined by my brother Ben this time as we try our very best to sneak, vault, barge, run, climb, paddle and hobble our way across the unforgiving landscape of mid Wales for what I am desperately hoping is the third and final time. With two failed attempts under my belt and news of other brits plotting to beat me to it, I am hungrier than ever for success. However, it's sheep tupping season in the October foliage smeared hills of Powys, and despite my experience and planning, failure is still very much on the cards.
My third attempt at crossing Wales in a completely straight line continues with what is without doubt the most eventful and stressful day of missioning I've ever experienced. We knew that day 2 with it's unrelenting farmland would be a sketchy one even on a Sunday, but we never could've imagined just how stressful, exhausting and downright painful it would turn out to be. The question is, would it all prove too much for us?
Our third attempt at traversing across Wales in a completely straight line continues. After surviving the savagery of the farmland by the skin of our teeth, 15 miles of open moorland, forests and reservoirs now separate us from the coast. It was never going to be a walk in the park, especially with a mildly sprained ankle, but in terms of anything or anyone that could physically force us from our line, there should be next to nothing. However in a cruel twist of fate, an issue would arise to send our stress levels right back up to the dizzying heights of the previous day.
It's been quite a ride, but this series is almost over. I had every intention of this mission being my most boring mission yet. It turned out to be the exact opposite. The ultimate goal of a perfect, continuous run may have slipped away from us on day 3 in tragic fashion, but we can still walk every step of this line and damn well complete it. Or can we? Would anything surprise you at this point?
With all the action over, it's now time for me to take a good hard look at the line that we laid down from the comfort of my room. I'll be analysing how far we strayed from the true line and how tightly we hugged it overall, commentating on any points of interest as I scroll. I'll fill you in on any key missing details from the story of the ordeal, and I'll also discuss the level of success or failure I feel this mission is, along with how and why my feelings differed after Wales attempt 2.
2019
The journey begins
You join me here 3.5 miles in and the bulk of the farmland to get through, the aim being to get through it all unscathed and find a good place to camp the night.
This week sees me leave the fields and venture into epic forests and mountains and attempt to cross Lake Vyrnwy in my cheapo inflatable Kayak without a life jacket.
You join me here on day 4, where I attempt to conquer the mountains in one fell swoop. That's 12 miles of constant climbing and descending without using a single path. This could be dangerous, especially when you're rushing..
You're watching the final Episode. Will i make it through the gnarly section of mountains that i was blindly stumbling deeper and deeper into?
How accurately did I follow the line?
2022
It's back. It isn't what I had planned, but it's back. The incredible feat of crossing Wales, or even a country, in a straight line is one that as far as I'm aware is yet to be accomplished, and here I am having another stab at it. Join me and Welsh Greg as we attempt to successfully conquer this brand new route, and all of it's inevitable obstacles; hedgerows, barbed wire, forests, and steep mountains, and due to some much more favourable weather and the small matter of a global pandemic, a distinct increase in human presence...
Join me and Welsh Greg 6 miles into the hills of mid Wales as we attempt to be the first people to cross Wales in a completely straight line. Today was all about reaching the stash point. If we didn't, we were screwed. But with 8.5 miles of farmland in our way, it was by no means guaranteed. Today would turn out to be a day of human interaction, but how costly would those encounters be?
Join me and Welsh Greg 13 miles into the hills of mid Wales as we attempt to be the first people to cross Wales in a completely straight line. Having successfully reached the stash point, we now aimed to cross the half way point and position ourselves high up into the forests of the Cambrian mountains. In this action packed episode we attempt to sneak through a whole village, navigate our way up and down steep ravines, through farms and rivers. Our food supplies would become a serious issue, but little did we know a much more serious threat was looming over us...
As promised, the line analysis and pack list video for the Mission Across Wales Attempt 2.
Streaming availability information not available
Tom Davies (GeoWizard)
Host
2023
Join me in what I was desperately hoping would be my fourth AND final attempt at this grueling feat of stealth and endurance, using all of my past experience to execute the perfect strategy over what was a very hazardous line. Part 1 sees me tackle the farmland heavy first 8 miles before heading up into the steep and remote wilderness that would dominate the rest of the trip.
The race to be the first person to cross Wales in a completely straight line continues with this rather eventful second episode. Join me as I attempt to clamber up an perilously steep mountainside, battle my way through a very sketchy pile of fallen trees, and march boldly into a farmyard in plain view of the owner.. Despite this leg of the journey being largely set in the remote wilderness of mid Wales, there was still the occasional farmyard to sneak through or past, and when I chose the worst time possible to gallop headlong towards a farmhouse, I thought the mission was as good as over...
The race to be the first person to cross Wales in a completely straight line reaches it's climax with what I am desperately hoping will be the final chapter in this epic 4 year story. You re-join me half way through day 3 where having just beaten two farms, I'm looking to make it to Camp 3A before dark, where I will launch my final one day offensive to the coast. What lay ahead of me however was some of the steepest and most challenging terrain I'd ever endured, and beyond that, a chain of farmers fields that led right up to the coast. Can my tired legs get through it all unscathed and without leaving the gold zone?
Today we take a closer look at all of my noteworthy deviations, talk about why they happened and how I could have prevented them. I also discuss strategy and how this one differed from previous missions, as well as an in depth look at the Burdell score as well as other interesting stats on the scoremyline website. Finally I discuss three new pieces of kit that revolutionised things this time around. Man it feels good to make one of these knowing that it's definitely the last one (in Wales!)
