To the hills!!!

Today we leave the Somerset Levels and head for the Mendips.

First of all though, I want to say something about the Travelodge, that has been home for 2 nights. Mum had been reading all sorts of rubbish and was dreading it, but it actually turned out to be OK. Yes, it's basic - only 1 pillow but you can have another, not much tea and coffe but you can request more, no hair dryer, but guess what, you can ask for one. We had a bathroom with bath and shower, a king size bed, and TV. They don't have a dining room, but they do provide you with a breakfast box - breakfast in bed! It was spotlessly clean, and the staff were brilliant. It also happens to be our most economical B&B since starting out.

As we finished at the other side of town yesterday, we needed a taxi to get us back there, to start this morning. The young man who came to pick us up, was an ex commando who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He had to leave the forces due to injuries sustained, and had bought into the taxi firm to secure his future. It served as a timely reminder, that we are doing this walk for such as he, and the whole ethos of 'god helps those who help themselves'!

Anyway, off we trotted across Queens Sedge Moor (we did Kings yesterday), an absolutely arrow straight road across the levels, no longer flooded. As we were walking we could hear the 'gobble' of the little egrets and sure enough came across 6 of them sitting in a tree, giving out their strange warning sounds. Couldn't get a photo sadly, as they were off before mum could get the camera out.

As we motored along, we glanced left, and for quite some time, were able to enjoy Wells, and it's incredible cathedral.

Whilst we have been on this trip, we have seen many solar parks, some larger than others. We have seen one today that surpasses all of them. It was massive - we reckon somewhere in the order of 50 acres. Can't see how we can be short of generating power with all these being developed.

We settled for lunch on the site of an old Mott and Bailey castle. We had some great views (if a little hazy). It took us a little while to figure out where the sound of a bell was coming from until we realised that we were sitting next to a golf course and the golfers were ringing the bell to advise the following, unsighted players that they were free to play the next hole.

Since we left Lands End, dad has been tantalising mum with 1 (yes1) packet of polos. It wasn't until mum gave half a packet to a friendly horse this morning, that he realised she actually had her own stash!

At long long last I spotted our first deer this afternoon. When you think that when we travel to and from Cornwall, we normally see dozens of them from the Motorway, it really is astonishing that it's taken until today to spot one.

Just going back to the pub in Marazion, whose regulars are enjoying the blog, we hear tell of a choir in Eastwood (that's on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border) which is also receiving regular updates. Let us know of similar goings on - madgesmusings@gmail.com

Keep spreading the word

M

xx