True to form, Mike and Carolyn arrived early to collect my bag, and I was really grateful that I have had several days break now, so my painful shoulder will be well and truly healed once we leave Bath. Before leaving Temple Cloud we stocked up on snacks at the garage opposite the inn, as we recognised that our route wasn’t going to pass any pubs!

Today’s walk was mainly on the Limestone Link, the trail which links the Mendips to the Cotswolds, and was well signposted. It had rained heavily during the night and we were prepared for further rain, but were lucky. Unfortunately, there was more mud, which certainly slows us down. By the time we reached the outskirts of Bath, we were feeling tired and elected to follow Google Maps on roads. This meant that we passed a pub that was serving food all day, so we stopped for a late lunch and a rest.

When we arrived at our destination we found the management had left chocolates in our room with a lovely note congratulating us on our walk so far! Mike had told them about LEJOG when he dropped our bag! We have now walked 300 miles, so a quarter of our route completed. We plan two days in Bath before setting off towards the Midlands.

A Backward Glance

My brother is the only person I know who could send someone off to the gallows with a smile on their face. His son James was officially recognised as ‘somebody who made Bristol a happier place’! (The Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree). I definitely would like him by the bedside when my time comes. After Mike pronounced ‘last rights’ over us (his rendition of an ‘Irish mine detector’), we sadly left him and Carolyn grinning from ear to ear. Thanks Mike and Carolyn, if only what you both have was contagious! Today’s walk was a ‘pick and mix’ of everything we’ve experienced so far. We walked over smooth green and lumpy brown fields, up and down muddy slopes, through peoples gardens, farms, woods and for miles along rivers and occasional marshy areas. It was enjoyable, painful and hard going with little chance to rest, so an alternative lane that passed a pub just outside Bath proved too tempting.