Distance Walked: 24km (estimate), Time Taken: 6h, Avg Walking Speed: 4km/h (estimate)
Not sure of the exact distance because got lost trying to find the hotel in Leckhampton. I attempted to use GPS to locate it and me on map and that killed the trip counter. Bummer. Know I walked for 6 hours and did 10km in the 2 1/2 hour morning leg.
Good-ish weather for walking. Sunny but with a howling gale up on the Common but wearing the beanie took care of that. Glad I packed it rather than going ahead with my plan to buy a nicer one here as I wouldn't have done so and I really needed it today. In spite of the weather I've picked a good time of year for this walk. Every field is full of wildflowers and the woods are full of bluebells.
The way marking on the Common was pretty poor. The posts were there but the inset arrows showing which direction to head in had mostly fallen off. You could usually spot the next post in the distance but not always. Got down off the Common without having to do any backtracking though. Made it to the Reservoir Inn by 11:30am.
Breakfast was very pleasant with tables set up in the conservatory. I was the only guest at breakfast, which I'm getting rather tired of. There had been two other guest staying but they'd eaten earlier. Had bran flakes with grapefruit pieces and some yoghurt. Then I had 1 fried egg, 1 hash brown, half a tomato, some baked beans and a slice of black pudding. I then had 1 1/2 slices of toast with marmelade and some rather ordinary plunger coffee.
Lunch at the Reservoir Inn was delicious. The first good pub meal I've had. I had a steak sandwich with fried onions, roquette and mustard mayonnaise. The steak was tasty and tender which was unusual. It is usually a cheap and nasty cut. Unfortunately, I was being uncouth and eating it with my hands and dropped a piece of steak on the floor and had to grovel around in full view of the other diners and bar staff. Oh well, I'll never meet them again.
My glutes are merely uncomfortable today but by hip flexors are very stiff and sore. The right leg particularly. I had to go up the stairs one at a time, i.e. step up with the left then bring the right up to join it, lather, rinse, repeat. I couldn't step up using the right. I had to lift my leg with my hands to put my trousers on. Hopefully the will have eased off tomorrow just like the glutes did.
My blisters are in a terrible state. The glue on the fancy blister bandaids had oozed and stuck to my socks so I peeled them off when I took my socks off. The blisters are twice the size they were at the end of the first day. Not sure what the appropriate treatment is for blisters. Should I pop them? I don't have Internet access so I can't check. Have a feeling you shouldn't. Have settled for putting even bigger bandaids over them so hopefully they won't get any bigger.
The clamber down from Leckhampton Hill to my B&B for tonight did not go well. There are only two paths marked on the map but many more on the ground. Ended up going north instead of west but met a friendly woman out walking her dog who put me right. She even offered me a lift to the hotel which was kind of her. Got lost on the last bit into Leckhampton and turned around (unnecessarily) to ask for directions. Not having good luck. Should have bought a compass. Not sure what to do tomorrow. The clamber back up won't be fun but don't want to risk not getting back on the trail.
Had a pleasant welcome here. Got given a jug of milk so I could make myself a "nice cup of tea" to help me recover. Have a double bed also this time but still no bath. My have to wait a week until my appointment at the Bath Spa for that.
There was no-one on reception when I went out for dinner so had to pick my direction myself. Got it wrong of course but managed to find a small cluster of shops. Settled on a slightly dingy pub that was having a meal deal for 5 GBP for a standard meal plus a drink. Had faggots (giant rissoles) with gravy, mash and - guess - peas. Was edible.
Had a man try to pick me up in the pub by the name of Augustus (Gus) Fantom. Told me all about his girlfriend problems and his soon-to-be ex-wife problems. Why do men think this is a good idea? Also told me he would like to visit Australia but he can't get a visa since he has done time for drugs and violence. Again, why was this a good thing to tell me? He is half English, 1 quarter Indian and 1 quarter Chinese. He told me he understood the Aborigines because he doesn't belong anywhere either. Didn't have the heart to tell him the Aborigines definitely belong somewhere. It is the rest of us that are the ring-ins.
Ate quickly, made polite excuses and left. Turned the correct way this time and walked down a street with twice as many shops in it on the way back to the B&B. Oh well, it was a cheap, edible and interesting dinner.
Back at the hotel feeling very sorry for myself. These blisters are making life really miserable.
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