OSGB GRID REF. ST655575. NR. PAULTON

SHANNON SINGS IN (THE) BATH

LIVELY STREETS AROUND BATH ABBEY

CHRIS PRACTISING HER NEW HOBBY FOR WHEN SHE RETIRES FROM TEACHING

MATT FROM LUCOZADE SPORT DELIVERS THE GOODS

NO GOOD TRYING TO GET A ROOM IN THE SHAM CASTLE

My weekend in Bath with Chris coincided with the start of the Jane Austen Festival, which seems to be a great excuse for a City-wide party. The streets were alive with music, street performers and people dressed in period costume.

In addition to giving my feet and knees a rest, the two consecutive rest days gave me time to wash some clothes and check over my gear. I noted that the lower section of my remaining Leki trekking pole had bent much as the first one had. Rather than try and straighten it, I inspected it more closely this time. I concluded that the pole's shock absorption mechanism had rubbed against the tubing, causing it to thin locally and thus weaken it. Replacement was the only practical option, so I ended up buying a pair of Black Diamond poles with no shock absorption and external locking mechanisms from a shop called Itchy Feet in Bath. The Leki's will go back home with Chris for Cotswold Outdoor to inspect when my walk is over.

The afternoon and evening were spent with my son David and his girlfriend Lisa who came over from Cardiff to see me.

Sunday involved more chilling-out around the centre of Bath, enjoying the glorious sun and listening to the musicians before Chris had to catch her train back in the early evening. I had an early night.

Monday 21 September, and my walk is due to resume. Before leaving, however, I receive a visit from Matt Furber of Lucozade Sport. His company has already provided me with a variety of specialist sports foods which I took with me to Scotland, and Matt has now given me a further supply in Bath.

Whilst in the centre of Bath I could see the Sham Castle overlooking the City from Bathampton Down. I was determined to take a closer look and this involved a 150m climb in the opposite direction to Land's End, which won't surprise those friends who have already concluded that I am quite mad. I came down the hill into Monkton Combe, where David Munn, the proprietor of the Wheelwrights Arms, kindly gave me a free lunch (who was it who said there was no such thing). Not quite so mad now, eh.

The rest of the day involved shortening the distance between me and Land's End by following a mixture of National Cycle Network Route 24 and the Limestone Link trail. The route of the latter occasionally passes through people's gardens, so it felt like I was trespassing at times.

It was about 6.30pm when I came to the perfect camp site. Although a mile short of Hallatrow, my intended destination, Wessex Water's Paulton Sewage Treatment Works had a lovely level patch of mown lawn adjacent to it with surrounding trees for privacy. What's more, it was up-wind of the processing plant.

I pitched the tent and prepared to settle down for the night, but then another nice thing happened which I will tell you about in the next exciting episode of Steve's Long Walk. Got to keep the readers hooked, you know.