To the north

A hugely psychologically important day today. At long last we head due north. Up until now we seem to have been plodding away Eastwards and it didn't really feel like we were getting any nearer J-O-G. We have also passed through Somerset and into Gloucestershire, our fourth county ( don't think we'll count Wiltshire).

We also have our first foray with a major walking route. We will be dallying with the Cotswold Way, on and off for the next 3-4 days. We are not following it slavishly, as dad says it goes inside out, up and down, and backwards, so instead of taking 7 days we are doing his straightened and flattened (only slightly) version, and mum and I aren't arguing.

We over-nighted at The Abbey, in Bath, a beautiful city centre hotel, that met all our needs apart from the washing (she'll just have to live with it), and at a reasonable price too. The only thing was, it was a bit warm, so I didn't sleep very well - so we were all a bit tired this morning. As a result, dad very kindly offered to carry my harness on the back of his rucksack...this had the added advantage that mum and I could get him over the stiles easier!

We had a lovely taxi driver this morning, Robin, who took us back to our finishing point and who very kindly gave us a donation for H4H and SARDA.

We started out walking the canal path for 4 miles, and it was interesting to see that very different community coming to life and getting on with their daily routines. We followed one boat almost all the way (they have to go very slowly past moored boats) and they had put their dog on the canal path to take his morning exercise, jumping back on board when the boat neared the tow path - clever fellow.

As with the other canals we have walked, there is plenty of what mum calls "canal art" - a variety of representative structures, put together from flotsam and jetsam gathered along the route.

After that we passed through Bathampton and Batheaston, and across fields and meadows to Marshfield. Along the way we were severely reprimanded by a guinea fowl who was clearly unimpressed with our presence.

At Marshfield we had a wonderful lunch at the Sweet Apples tea shop, where we were given another generous donation. Thank you.

Just as I thought we were coming to the end of our 14 mile day, dad put my harness on. As this piece of apparel is normally applied at the beginning of the day, for one awful moment, I thought we were going to start again. Thankfully, it was just to cross over the M4. Personally I think dad should have had the harness on, as mum had difficulty in preventing a major incident on the motorway, when he tried, unsuccessfully to get an Eddie Stobart. Driver to return his wave.!

Hey ho!!

Kept spreading the word.

M
xx