Distance Walked: 28km, Time Taken: 7h, Avg Walking Speed: 4km/h
Not sure why the GPS is claiming 28km for the trip distance as the official distance is only 24km. I did lose the way twice but this would only have added 2km to the total. The GPS did lose the signal and warned it would not be accurate but a 2km error is fairly large. Will leave the total as is because it makes my average speed look good.
Gray and overcast and threatening rain when we set off in the morning but started to clear as the day went on. I set off a few minutes before the Geordie mates but missed the second turning and ended up joining them until Dursely. They were pleasant company. Australian-style sense of humour. I'm sure they'd think we have Geordie-style senses of humour.
The walk did a lot of unnecessary up and down and admiring of views but I knew what to expect so I just enjoyed it. My blisters don't give me trouble any more. The smaller of the two on my left foot has gone down. My left knee still troublesome. I wore the brace all yesterday at evening and while I slept but don't think that was a good idea. My knee, if anything, was worse today. Ibuprofen works. At least it stops it hurting. Don't know if it is helping fix the underlying problem. I expect not. Still, the knee only gave me trouble on the down hill bits and then only really noticeably by the end of the day.
Split up with the Geordie boys at Dursely. I stopped at the Old Spot Inn while they went on. They just lunch on bananas and chocolate. Too hardcore for me. I had a steak and ale pie which came with dauphinois potatoes and seasonal veg - green beans and oven-baked capsicum and onions this time. Not a pea in sight. Got chatting to a man at the next table in the pub. He is also doing the Cotswold Way but south to north.
Was feeling good, and rather full, so took the long route all around the edge of the golf course on Stinchcombe Common. Had originally meant to take the short cut across it. The short cut is all of about 200m while the long route is 4km. Meet up with 2 couples on the golf course but out-paced them on then drop down into North Nibley. I think they were planning to stop there for a pint/snack anyway. Lots of people on the Way today.
Got to Wotton without any dramas. Meet the other couple I seen in Standish wood yesterday in the street. Turns out they are staying here at Chipping House too. They gave me directions as the ones Contours supplied were just plain wrong. They got here yesterday (taxi from Kings Stanley) and had eaten at the pub I was plannning to go to tonight. They were not impressed so I will try the Royal Oak, which is nearby, instead. They are going there too. Wonder if I should try to join them?
Pleasant room here and pleasant welcome, but twin beds and only a shower. Not very hot water in the shower but the heater is the bathroom is on at least. So many places here have those water-filled radiators for heat but don't have the boiler on so the rooms are a bit cool for my taste.
Think I will just buy a sandwich here and finish off the trail mix for lunch tomorrow. There are plenty of shops, unlike Painswick, so I shouldn't have trouble finding something decent. The pub I was planning to go to in Hawkesbury Upton is off route so I think I'll skip it. I definitely don't need the calories. I won't be coming home thinner than when I left, that's for sure.
Went out for dinner with the plan of going to the Royal Oak. There was a cold wind and a bit of drizzle so I stopped in at the Swan Hotel instead as it was closer. However, the restaurant was deserted. Only one couple seated and no sign of any staff. I loitered for a minute but no-one showed up. The owner of the B&B had warned me that being a Friday night things would be busy so I took this as a sign and left.
When I finally got to the Royal Oak the couple were already there and well into their meal so the issue of joining them didn't come up. In turn, I was well into my meal the two Geordies came into the restaurant. The five of us were the only patrons so we just had a pleasant chat between all of us. Food ordinary. I had homemade pate as a starter which was good and then roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, with a side of mash, peas+corn and spinach. The pudding was good but the beef overdone.
Came back to the B&B with the couple. The boiler for the heater in my bathroom has been turned off. Bugger, not sure if my gear will dry. What do the English have against heat?
The Geordie boys are staying at the same B&B as me tomorrow night so I will have company on my walk into Bath if I want it.
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