Day 6 Stratton-on-the-Fosse to Bath 13.5

After eating breakfast with three Germans who were on tour of the west country, I set out on my last day on the road to Bath. I travelled along quiet lanes until I reached the busy town of Midsummer Norton. Whilst there I needed to use the toilet and eventually found one near the Town hall. This however was not ordinary toilet and require 20p in order to enter it. The door opened like a spaceship's air lock and closed leaving me in a small dark chamber. It was a very strange experience and I was glad to see an emergency red button should I get stuck!! I only hoped there would be someone there if I needed to press it. I eventually escaped and headed to the rolling hills around Bath.The day grew warm and I found a small tea room where I had a pot of tea and a sandwich before setting off again. The lanes descend  into deep river valleys as you get closer to Bath and I eventually came to Pennsylvania farm where Alison and I were staying. I had a shower and reflected on a job well done! As a post script, when we got home on the Sunday I decided to walk down to the town to get some milk. I had not walked more that half a mile when my left foot that I had twisted when I fell off the style a few days before really hurt. I managed to limp back home. It is still giving me trouble so it is off to the doctors this week to get it checked out!

Day 5 Glastonbury to Stratton-on-the Fosse 15miles

Jon and I met at the car park on an overcast morning that had potential! Heading out through the suburbs of Glastonbury we passed the time identifying various trees and shrubs. Urban life gradually changed to countryside as we took the long straight road across the levels to Launcherly. As we reached there, the landscape changed rapidly and the Mendip hills began, giving a good view back from where we had come. We only managed to get lost once and were joined by some friendly cows as we found our way back onto the right footpath. At 2pm we had made good progress and had lunch at Dinder. The locals were friendly and after lunch we headed on the few remaining miles to Stratton-on -the Fosse. It was during these few remaining miles I made a bad mistake through lack of concentration.A friend of ours had phoned to see how we were and Jon had passed the phone to me.Whilst getting over a high stile I lost my balance and fell backwards. In doing so I twisted my left ankle and cut my arm. Thankfully my backpack broke some of my fall and only my pride seemed really hurt! Eventually we arrived at Statton -on- the-Fosse and looked around Downside Abbey. At 4.30pm Jon caught the bus back to Glastonbury and I headed for my B and B.Only one days walking left and I would meet up with Alison again in Bath.

Day4 Meare Green to Glastonbury 18.5 miles

On a hazy morning I set out on the road to Glastonbury.I had not gone half a mile when I met two cyclists heading from Lands End to John O Groats. We swapped stories and then I headed towards Burrow Mump which is a ruined hilltop chapel in the Somerset Levels.The landscape is flat and wet with many drainage channels or rhynes. The miles are slow as the landscape is flat and is devoid of any outstanding landmarks. Its a strange thing what goes through your mind at a time like this.Your blisters hurt and there are few distractions to take your mind off them. I started to imagine I was Cary Grant in that scene form North by Northwest where he is attacked by the crop dusting plane, when caught out in the flatlands of the midwest of the USA. No maize for me to hide in just reed beds. Eventually I crossed the levels and saw the Polden hills and Glastonbury Tor in the distance.I climbed up Walton hill where there is the remains of an old windmill and started the decent to Glastonbury by way of Street. I was meeting Jon who had travelled down from Suffolk and would walk with me to Stratton on the Fosse the following day. As I entered Glastonbury it was full of everything "New Age" and seemed to be a magnet for anybody with an alternative view of life. Even my B and B was mystic and it felt like being  at a Woodstock convention. Settling into my room I received a text from Jon. " You were the first person I saw as I drove into town, I would recognise that walk anywhere" He also unfairly suggested we could make a fortune selling soap. After meeting up with Jon for drinks and something to eat and planning our route for tomorrow I headed back to my room. Crossing the car park I saw three girls aged about 16 (going on 25). One, as I passed spat on the ground ( not at me I hasten to say) . She then said to me "you look very nice". "Thank you I said that very kind of you". She either had poor eye sight or a sense of humour!!!      

Day 3 Hillfarrance to Meare Green - 15.5 miles

A morning of hazy sunshine greeted me as I set out along the road to Taunton. The wind had dropped and I headed across the flat fields that make up The Vale of Taunton Deane. Following the river Tone I eventually got to Taunton where the river increases considerably in size and has sluices and bridges. I stopped in the town centre to get my bearings and have a pot of tea. Leaving Taunton you follow the Bridgwater and Taunton canal which takes you to "all things wet" on the Somerset levels. I passed the county cricket ground and watched the down and outs who had just settled down under a nearby concrete bridge for the morning, with their daily cider supply. My stop for the night would be at Meare Green the only real high area of land, which runs along a ridge above the levels.As I got about 6 miles from Meare Green I made the bad choice off keeping to the west side of the river Parrot. Little did I know but the flood waters were so bad, that whole areas, up to a mile across were flooded to about 6 ft deep. I could see the village I wanted to get to but could not get there! I tried crossing several roads but this proved impossible due to the depth of the water. I managed to find a narrow ridge above the river and the flood plain and headed north to try and find higher ground. The ridge had withys stacked on it and "escaped" oil seed rape that covered me in yellow pollen. I eventually emerged out of the undergrowth to find a bridge crossing, to take me to Meare Green. I sat in the b and b garden cleaning myself off with a cloth, eating crumpets and jam, drinking tea. I  imagined Noah in his ark waiting for the floods to go down!

Day 2 Tiverton to Hillfarrence 22 miles

After a good breakfast I eventually hit the road on what would prove a long day crossing the border to Somereset. Some domestic duties had to be sorted out first as I needed a OS map to find my way across the border. After calling in W.H. Smiths I set out to find the Grand Western Canal which would be my "constant friend" for the next 12 miles. Canals are never boring as there is always something going on as every step unfolds. Ducks fighting, swans teaching their young gracefulness and Perch hanging around in weedy water waiting for someone to beat up! Although sunny, the day had a distinct Siberian feel with a strong wind that nearly blow my hat into the canal several times. The barges/houseboats looked cosy though, with breakfasts well"underway" and people stretching to welcome the morning . Eventually I reached the end of the canal and found a pub that was only open evenings and  day times on weekends. Boy was I disappointed. I sat dejected and ate some chocolate. I was not the only "wasp trapped into a jam jar of water". As I sat there chewing, a couple stared through the dark pub window and asked me "is it closed"?  I left them looking intently at their map and passed some old lime kilns as I headed out into the country lanes. Eventually by way of high rocky lanes and shady churchyards I came to the Anchor Inn at Hillfarrence. It was comfortable and homely, an oasis after a long day on the road.

Day 1 Crediton to Tiverton 15 miles

I was feeling a bit nervous as Alison drove with me on a cloudy  grey morning to Crediton. The "short cut" across country to avoid traffic proved to be quite hair raising with bumpy hills and narrow roads with grass growing down the middle of them. Eventually we arrived at the sports centre and I waved Alison goodbye in the rain and headed across the water meadows. I then made my and  through a series of villages before joining the river Exe and ending up for the night in Tiverton. The first village I came to had the best bus shelter I have ever seen. Talk about comfort. It had cushions flowers a notice board and all mod cons.The weather brightened up about 1pm and I headed towards Bickleigh castle. In Bickleigh I stopped in a bus shelter ate a milky way and checked my feet out. It was time to put some Vaseline on them and stop the friction of rubbing socks before any blisters appeared. Feet greased I headed over the hills to Tiverton and headed down into the town and found my Bed and breakfast. Along soak in a bubbly bath fixed my feet and day one was done. What's more the sun had come out! Things could only get better I was off to the pub!.

my last training day

As I sat inside today it was more like a scene from Hound of the Baskervilles . The sea mist had blown in and on top of this it had rained most of the day. I thought to myself, I hope it is not like this next week as I set out on my 100 mile journey from Crediton to Bath. I seem to have a knack of setting out on a journey on a wet day. Last  year in June there had been weeks of dry weather till the day I actually got on my bike and the heavens opened. Tomorrow sees my last actual training walk before the real thing on Monday. The weather is set fair so  I am looking forward to having  some "thinking" time about the week ahead before meeting Alison for lunch ( and a lift home from The Blue Ball at Sidford). If my feet hold up next week everything should be fine and just think of the new places I am going to see. Its very  exciting  to be on the road again.

My part-time job as a shepherd

Only 10 days to go before I set out from Crediton to Bath. Today started dull and gloomy as I set out for my training walk to Sidmouth. You know you are getting old when 5 minutes into the walk you wonder if you remembered to close the garage door and have to walk a quarter of a mile back home just in case you hadn't. I had of course closed it. Never mind I was off on the road again and because of my delay caught up with a friend of mine who was walking his dog. Had I not gone back I would have missed him! As I got to Branscombe  the woods were full of wild garlic and bluebells it was wonderful! On leaving Branscombe I found a sheep in the road apparently lost. Traffic was coming in both directions up the narrow road and I had to stop cars and direct them round him. This went on for about a quarter of a mile until I managed to chase him round a bungalow and into a field. I then got somebody to call the farmer and I headed of to Sidmouth! On the final stretch to Sidmouth along the coastal path I met a walker who was doing the south coast path and on Sunday had walked 23 miles in the rain. Poor him I thought, but as he had also cycled right the way across Australia from Perth to Sydney this must have seemed easy. A large ice cream in Sidmouth refreshed my spirits!