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| MIKE THOUGHT HE WAS COMING TO A STAG PARTY |
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| WALKERS LINDA AND MARTIN, MET ALONG THE WAY |
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| ONLY TEN MILES TO GO |
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| PALS KIERON AND DEAN |
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| BATHTIME, AT LAST |
I awoke from my
sleep at the edge of Stinchcombe Hill Golf Course to the sound of mowers
preparing the teeing grounds. My destination for the day was Wotton-under-Edge
which, since I was ahead of schedule, was just 6 miles away. Mike Barker, a
friend and keen supporter from my local community, was driving out to meet me
at Wotton on the Wednesday so that he could walk with me on Thursday.
During the evening, whilst we were enjoying supper, Ian and Lucy (see previous diary entry) dropped by. There is a kind of bush-telegraph system that seems to arise spontaneously along the length of long distance paths such as the Cotswold Way. It occurs because of the number of people following the same route and exchanging information as they meet or pass each other. Ian and Lucy were able to bring me up to date with news concerning several other walkers I had met or heard about.
I rose early Thursday morning because I had been asked to do an additional live interview with Julian Clegg on his BBC Radio Solent Breakfast Show.
Shortly after 9.00am Mike and I commenced our southerly trek through, to use Mike's own terms, quintessential English countryside. Though cloudy, it was warm and dry. Mike took the trouble to enhance my education by identifying some of the plants and birds we saw along our way.
Just before 2.00pm we arrived at the Dog Inn at the wonderfully named Old Sodbury. From here, a taxi was called to take Mike back to his car in Wotton, whereas I continued on for a couple of miles until I reached the Compass Inn, a hotel and restaurant in Tormarton. What a terrific place! The owners, Paul and Penny Monyard, are incredibly supportive of people undertaking charity ventures such as mine. I was permitted to pitch my tent in the grounds and even provided with a door entry card so that I could use the facilities at night. Magic.
In the evening I was delighted to receive a visit from pals Dean and Kieron. They used to be senior managers at an electronics company in South Wales and I first met them when they engaged me to help with product design. Now, like me, they are in business for themselves. We hadn't seen each other for a while so, in addition to receiving their encouragement, there was plenty of news to exchange.
On Friday morning the Compass Inn provided me with a hearty breakfast, asking for no payment other than suggesting I make a donation to my own charities. Thank you, Paul and Penny, to you and all your helpful staff.
During the evening, whilst we were enjoying supper, Ian and Lucy (see previous diary entry) dropped by. There is a kind of bush-telegraph system that seems to arise spontaneously along the length of long distance paths such as the Cotswold Way. It occurs because of the number of people following the same route and exchanging information as they meet or pass each other. Ian and Lucy were able to bring me up to date with news concerning several other walkers I had met or heard about.
I rose early Thursday morning because I had been asked to do an additional live interview with Julian Clegg on his BBC Radio Solent Breakfast Show.
Shortly after 9.00am Mike and I commenced our southerly trek through, to use Mike's own terms, quintessential English countryside. Though cloudy, it was warm and dry. Mike took the trouble to enhance my education by identifying some of the plants and birds we saw along our way.
Just before 2.00pm we arrived at the Dog Inn at the wonderfully named Old Sodbury. From here, a taxi was called to take Mike back to his car in Wotton, whereas I continued on for a couple of miles until I reached the Compass Inn, a hotel and restaurant in Tormarton. What a terrific place! The owners, Paul and Penny Monyard, are incredibly supportive of people undertaking charity ventures such as mine. I was permitted to pitch my tent in the grounds and even provided with a door entry card so that I could use the facilities at night. Magic.
In the evening I was delighted to receive a visit from pals Dean and Kieron. They used to be senior managers at an electronics company in South Wales and I first met them when they engaged me to help with product design. Now, like me, they are in business for themselves. We hadn't seen each other for a while so, in addition to receiving their encouragement, there was plenty of news to exchange.
On Friday morning the Compass Inn provided me with a hearty breakfast, asking for no payment other than suggesting I make a donation to my own charities. Thank you, Paul and Penny, to you and all your helpful staff.
This was the final 15 mile stretch of the Cotswold Way which would take me into Bath. I had a late lunch at the Prospect Stile viewpoint that looks over the City before walking the final 4 miles down to the official end point in the churchyard of Bath Abbey. I was greeted by girlfriend Chris, who had arrived by train earlier in the day, and fellow walkers Ian and Lucy, who had been walking about an hour ahead of me.
After the celebratory photographs, Chris and I prepared for a relaxed and restorative weekend before I tackled the final 250 mile section of my trek, which would take me right through the middle of the West County.