Day 35 Malham to Hawes

All on my own again. A family staying at the Youth Hostel where really interested in my exploits at breakfast and donated £40 as they were leaving. I saw the Earby YH couple walk past my window and probably going to be meeting up with them a lot over the next few days. Picked up the Pennine Way again which went directly to Malham Cove a massive 80m high natural amphitheatre of limestone after seeing the worm eye view from the bottom walked up the zillion steps to the water eroded limestone pavements across the top. The trail then followed a dry stone wall before emerging on open grassland at Malham Tarn. Stopped for a bit of bird watching in a conveniently placed hide before setting out again towards Fountain Fell. I waited by a style whilst six blind or partially sighted hikers and their sighted guides negotiated the ladder. That was impressive and I had total respect for what they were doing and showed the totals trust they had in their helpers. It was now a long long drawn out climb over Fountains Fell - no more the green grass of farmland but instead the darker green of moor grass and interspersed with boggy becks and gills (little streams) - new shoes got a slight christening in one of the bogs. Once I reached the top although it was misty I could just make out the top of Pen -y-Ghent, one of Yorkshires "three peaks" at 694 m. It was a lovely downhill run, sometimes steep and sometime a bit rubbly, to the "main" road where I made the decision to stop for lunch. Out came cheese roll and pain au chocolate that I had doggy bagged from breakfast (stole)! I thought I was all alone but I suddenly heard voices and there huddled behind a wall was the Earby YH couple! They were having trouble getting their gas stove to work for a brew of tea - luxury indeed. This was where I was to leave the Pennine Way as although that went on to Horton - in - Ribblesdale I had made the decision to head straight to Hawes which would make this a long day but would give me the benefit of a day off tomorrow. So I then followed the road for a couple of miles to a small hamlet of Halton Gill (strangly enough whilst probably wanting to live in the middle of nowhere every single house was equipped with a satellite dish) to then follow a track and then a footpath very steeply uphill. At times it was boggy and I had to put in little gazelle leaps to ensure clearance of the mire. Once reaching the top it was a well worn path through more bog fields (I'm beginning to learn which plants you can stand on in boggy situations and which ones will just sink). Unfortunately the pain has come back in my leg so I'm guessing its down to the pounding up and down hill so I'll have to continue to pill pop. In the valley more very noisy motor bikes were burning up the lanes ruining the silence. Back on the lanes it was then a mixture of slow run and walk all the way back uphill to the viewpoint at the top although when I got there I couldnt see what the viewpoint was for other than for a bit of moorland, and I've seen plenty of that. What goes up must come down and the down was a 1:4 road that went on and on for the next mile and a half straight into Hawes. Too tired to go out afterwards and had a massive three course meal at the Youth Hostel which was excellent and then straight to bed - such a party animal!

Millage 22.99 Time 5.57

Total mileage 580.63

Day 34 Earby to Malham

Didn't get too much sleep last night - snoring and someone got a text message in the middle of the night and really thought I had seriously injured my leg, and lay awake thinking that I would need to go to the hospital from Malham and with my leg in plaster and what I would write on my blog to announce non completion...not to fear as leg much better in the morning but pill popped just in case! Ozier troop and I went into the village for a fry up so very late setting off. It was warm and sunny so back to Summer gear and sunnies! Steve is taking most of my luggage today so light backpack which was luxury. Footpath to Thornton-in-Craven where Tricia and I picked up the Pennine way again. Initially up steep hill but then into rolling fields - so quiet and peaceful the only sounds were birdlife and animals chewing grass. Bog field needed careful negotiation before running alongside Leead and Liverpool canal for a short distance and under an unique double arched bridge (top arch was added to allow levelling with road). We left the canal just after East Marton to go for several miles over field after field of sheep!! before crossing the railway and dropping down into a pretty Roman village of Gargrave where we stopped for a while for liquid refreshment and chocolate cake in a local pub. We then continue on uphill initially on lanes then over field. The views were fantastic from the top and a total change of scenary from the last four days, ie no moors, craggy hills and boggy expanses, but just field after field of grass,cows, sheep and lots of small copses of mixed trees. Fantastic long sweeping down hills that seemed to go on forever and which were an absolute joy to run down, even Tricia was ecstatic! Eventually crossed into the Yorkshire Dales National Park and dropped down to run alongside the river Aire. Met up with a couple walking the Pennine Way who had stayed at Earby Youth Hostel last night - should see them again at Hawes YH in a couple of days. Continued alongside the river to Hanlith where we took the lane steeply uphill past Hanlith Hall and through yet more fields to finally reach Malham. Animal Olympics festival is ongoing all week and rather bizarrly there were lots of paper mache and scarecrow creatures doing various Olympic sports dotted around the village ie polar bear doing the pole vault and penguins doing the 40k walk. It was a very busy village and after icecreams we all walked to Janet's Foss via a lovely wood and glades with a strong smell of garlic. There were many fallen trees which had been strangely "stabbed" with hundreds of coins! Joe and Lou enjoyed paddeling under the waterfall before we walked up to Gordale Scar, a huge gorge in the rocks formed in the ice age and was pretty amazing to look at. Local pub for tea again.

Mileage 13.25 time 3.30

Day 33 - Mankinholes to Earby (Simon says "centre of the universe")

No wind, No rain (intro to a famous Diana Ross song!?) but heavy mist. Unfortunately still couldn't see the Stoodley Monument. Steep downhill through woodland to join Rochdale canal. Got chased by Canadian goose along towpath! Plenty of moored canal boats - some were pemanent moorings as even had "community veg patch" at side of the canal. Needed to get breakfast so took detour to Hebden Bridge (Last of the Summer Wine country) for bacon buttie and latte. Very VERY steep cobbled uphill via Butress Lane and via Heptonstall which was lovely cobbled street village with grey stone terrace houses and then onto Slack and into the mist. Picked up Pennine Way bridleway but at this point couldn't see more than 20 m in any direction so opted to stay on tracks and lanes rather than footpaths across moors. Eerie silence all around, curlews everywhere and appeared out of the mist like fighter bombers wailing, mini pteradactyls. Followed the track around yet more resevoirs but today the water was calm. Picked up lane past Widolop Resevoir and although water was just to my left, couldn't see it! Downhill, steep at times to Thursden where mist started to rise then very steep uphill to pick up Bronte Way across yet more sheep fields. Sun tried to come out briefly and I had a shadow! Couldn't find the footpath I needed from Bronte way and after going up and down the track a couple of times picked one that pointed in the right direction. Through bog fields but luckily they were quite dry and bouncy until that is I reached the stream and couldn't put the brakes on quickly enough, left foot straight in the bog! Wet feet again! Undulating lanes through Trawden and up steep hill otherside. Along quiet lanes before dropping down to laneshaw Bridge when I picked up the Bronte way again - signed by some reason by a witch on her broomstick and quite a few houses had weathervanes with the same design, unsure why. Then followed unsigned footpath through a farm and out onto a country lane where I passed into North Yorkshire (WOW!) before running around base of a hill and sharp downhill into Earby. Right shin starting to hurt - hope its my trainers telling me they've run out. Plan was to "retire" them tonight anyway so when tricia turned up we had an official retirement party. Fab meal down the pub with Simon, Steve, Tricia,Joe and Louise.

Miles 23.45 time 5.36

Day 32 - Diggle to Mankinholes

Pouring with rain and blowing a gale. Bill gave me a lift up to top hill to pick up the Pennine way where I left off. Thought I had lost my gloves which would have been a disaster but found them! Nice run down rubbly track and missed Pennine Way footpath sign as looking at ground. Windy uphill run to Millstone Edge and then vast peat moorland so by now soaked and battling severe side/headwind. Nice downhill out of wind to cross A640 then passed a guy trying to get some respite from the weather behind low wall, his name was Sam. Then passed moor fires that had raged yesterday. Stopped at burger van in layby on the A672 for coffee. 2/3 walkers already gone through that morning then via "posh" footbridge (wind tunnel so a challenge to cross) over M62 (aptly area also known as Windy Hill!). Then nice run across flagstones across Redmires to Blackstone Edge, bit weird as sandy underfoot with huge boulders and "rock pools", could have been on the beach. No distinct footpath so followed the occasional bootprint in sand. The cobblestones to Agin Stone (old boundary marker) and turned onto hagged and paved Roman or packhorse track. Dropped down to A58 and "popped" into The White House Inn, who should be propping up the bar eating sarnies but David! Lovely wood fire so chance to warm up, hot soup for lunch then just about to leave and Sam tuens up, he's walking Pennine Way with his dad but he had had to drop out. Both left pub together straight into driving rain and wind again! Flat run along tracks beside resevoirs with white horse. Mist kept rolling in and out and visable trig points soon disappeared into nothingness! Passed David sat down behind a wall where there was respite for a little while from the wind and rain. Track arched around Warland Drain and then flagged across yet moorland of heather, bilberry bushes before then dropping off Pennine Way along Calderdale Way via long cobbled path into Mankinholes and out of the gales and driving rain. Youth Hostel not open so changed out of wet clothes in conservatory. Sam arrived having decided not to camp at Hebden. Waited 1.5 hours only for the reception guy to then tell me the back door to the kitchen was open and tea/coffee was available, typical! Pub for meal - still undecided re route I would take tomorrow, ie planned one via Burnley and Bronk Walp of 20 odd miles with unknown terrain or via Pennine way to lothersdale on well marked footpath where Tricia would meet me and take back pack for the last 6 miles of the 26. The fact that I don't have maps for Loth to earby settled the decision to stick with original plan! Another stamp in passport - this one of Stoodley Monument which is just uphill from here but hidden in the mist, celebrates the defeat of Napoleon at Warterloo.

Miles 14.09 and time 3.04

Day 31 - Crowden to Diggle

Porridge! no rain but still overcast and very windy. Footpath behind Youth Hostel took me uphill to join Pennine Way and initially rugged but gentle undulating run but soon steep ascent. Crossed couple of cloughs or streams then steep uphill to Laddow Rocks. Adrenaline junkies looking for free fear factor need just come and tackle first couple of days of Pennine Way. Path right on edge of sheer drop over craggy rocks - wind gale force again and took all effort just to stay upright with one leg in footpath trench and other on grass tussocks to prevent being blown over. Finally dropped down to follow brook, muddy in placed before crossing area of peat bogg to pick up flagstone path, against wind across Dunn Hill, went from Derbyshire to Yorkshire here, up to Soldiers Lump on Black Hill where quite a few hikers including David were huddled against the trig pillar. Another couple of hundred yards before flagstones dropped down other side for lovely run passing quite a few walkers burdened with large backpacks. Afer crossing yet more cloughs, arrived at A635 where welcome 'Snoopys' refreshment van was parked in a lay-by - very popular with both walkers and runners and drivers alike. Apparently quite a few endtoenders have gone through in last few days. After coffee crossed road to fabulous run downhill around side hills to Wessenden Head Resevoirs. Another runner stopped to chat told me it was pressy hairy over top of valley. After climbing out it was very windy but this time behind so pushed me along over flagstones across Black Moss Moor and onto 2 more resevoirs where had small piece of grass on which to run between them - side wind kept on blowing me nearer the water. Bad erosion on other side and matting put down plus lots of trays of new plants to be planted. Headed for Rederook Resevoir before descending via packhorse route to A62. Struggled to get latch back on gate it was so windy before following the Pennine Bridleway downhill into Diggle. Arrived 1.30PM which is earliest I arrived. Apparently 13 Buddhist Monks are due and someone with a horse. TV in room so 1st chance to catch up with what is happening in the outside world since Throwley Hall Farm 5 days ago. Now have been on my adventure exactly 1 month. Orphaned lamb being bottle fed, brought down from moors by couple of hikers who thought it was on its own. Went down to Diggle Hotel for tea £5 and £20 donations. Sheep very interested in horse and ganged up to go investigate.

Miles 12.61 time 3.28

Day 30 - Edale to Crowden

Breakfast a bit to be desired, kids were still there and huge queue to get anything. Pain au chocolate and croissant were the most appetising. 3 new ladies were all from Malaysia, Lily, Honey and Brenda and 2 other ladies had walked to Kinder Scout yesterday, they gave £7 between them. No rain yet(was predicted for today) but very windy, initial path from youth hostel over grassy fields of sheep, wind behind me. Through Ollerbrook Booth then into Edale. Pennine Way starts opposite The Old Naggs Head. Ominously, mountain rescue were doing a collection. Nice route through several fields via flagstones and down to Upper Booth. Enjoying this - no worries! National Trust shelter/information at Lee House with very friendly chickens. Then sandy/stony track slightly uphill packhorse stone bridge and steep steps (Jacobs Ladder named after Jacob Marshall, packhorse driver who scrambled up slope to smoke pipe whilst packhorses took longer zig zag track. Lovely views back down to valley from top. Guy coming other way hardly moving due to wind and dressed for the Arctic! Some people going my way in shorts and t shirts! Gore stuff keeping the wind out. At outcrop rocks called Edale Rocks difficult to see were path went. Then path turned into wind and boy was it windy! Rocky path so difficult to run on and could see Kinder resevoir below and Manchester in the distance. After 1.5 miles or so, got to where Kinder waterfall should have been in full force but due to lack of rain it had totally dried up which was actually good news as all surrounding peat was spongy and bone dry. Again difficult to find track on other side but when did pick up met loads of hikers going other way, many thought I was a real fell runner, praise indeed! Steep downhill to path crossing road at Ashop Head with Snake Pass then up to Mill Hill where road of flagstones laid over Featherbed Moss for next 3 miles. Put on gloves and buff as now getting cold. Into ferocious headwind so case of run for a bit then walk to be able to breath! It's nothingness out here but cotton grass and peat. Flagstones brought in by copter to prevent erosion of fragile soil. Crossed A57 Snake Road and continued uphill on other side, crossing another packhorse route before entering Devil's Dyke, shallow trench between peat fields which then followed and eventually entered the stream so got a bit boggy. Up onto Bleaklow plateau to Bleaklow Head where again difficult to find path and needed to use compass! Started to drop down to eventually meet the stream - part of the path was rugged, part flagstoned. Crossed river to then head steeply uphill then along rim of Torside Clough. Mega MEGA windy and although dropping gradually, all my energy was spent on staying on my feet , the weight of the backpack helped but still got blown over twice. Rugged steep downhill to disused railway track then followed dam to cross between Torside and Rhodeswood Resevoir before track through conifers led to A628. Further track to Crowden Youth Hostel for welcome cup of coffee and recounted windy adventures with others including David. No mobile reception.

Miles 18.94 time 5.18

Day 29 - well deserved holiday!
Walked back over Back Tor into Castleton. Overcast and windy but the good news is that the mobile reception came back at the bottom of the drive - didn't like not being able to contact people as I felt very remote and isolated. The sun then came out but the wind was chilly. Uphill again to Peverill Castle ruins then stopped for a hot chocolate before going to Peak Cavern (AKA Devils Arse!) where they used to make huge lengths of rope. The caverns are so big they can have concerts and wedding receptions inside! Then took a ride in a boat in Speedwell Cavern : over 1/2 mile long and just big enough for the boat to pass along...that was great fun if very chilly! Had to wear hard hats due to the narrow tunnels to protect my head! Chips for lunch which I ate on the lovely village green. It was a very busy village with lots of hikers, tourists and cyclists milling around. Found Castleton had a YH....should have stayed there to avoid the continuous walking over Back Tor and the noisy school kids but they didn't have internet either unfortunately....never mind!

Day 28 - Priestcliffe to Edale
Margaret and John's neighbour's Sheila and Arthur kindly gave me £15 for my efforts. Fresh eggs for breakfast from Marigold (one of the 19 free range hens at Highfield B&B) then off...ran through several fields occasionally having to stop to climb over the stone stiles and on to a disused quarry where there was a VERY steep downhill with large cobbled stones which made it incredibly difficult to run. Millers Dale has an old water wheel from 1860 which used to grind corn and animal feed : the landlord at the time took part of the ground corn as payment. Steep uphill onto Limestone Way on a track between dry stone walls then on quiet lanes. It was very overcast, spitting and windy...great! Picked up the Pennine bridleway at Wheaton. Two dozing lambs woke with a start and began bleating furiously as if lost - one 'baa' from mum and they legged it..talk about instant voice recognition. Very craggy and steep hills up onto Old Moor : very bleak and open but grassy waymarked paths. Back on Limstone Way and dropped down very very steeply on damp rocky path under Peveril Castle and into Castleton. Stopped for a coffee and toasted t-cake in a lovely coffee shop and one of the customers kindly donated £10. Out through the other side of Castleton where I picked up the footpath that would take me over the top of Back Tor and down into the Vale of Edale. Very steep uphill and from the top I could just make out the Pennine Way wrapping itself around the hills! Ran down into the Vale and to the YH - no internet access (broken!) or mobile coverage and a huge group of school kids staying for the weekend!! Also no transport back into Castleton where I was planning to spend tomorrow! Very tired tonight and fell asleep just after 5pm...woke for nice 3 course tea and in bed by 7.30 at which time the kids were just going out for their evening events!
Mileage 11.66 and time 3.06

Total mileage 475.30

Day 27 - Ilam to Priestcliffe

Had a fantastic 'collection' this morning - each of the riders gave me £20 plus the two other couples gave me £20 each and then Muriel (B&B owner) also gave me £5....WOW! Sad postscript - the cow was dead when I ran past her this morning. Today was a fantastic journey through Dovedale and Wolfscote Dale following a babbling brook. It reminded me of a walk John and I had made in a canyon called Angels Landing in the US. The path was gently undulating along sandy and sometimes rocky pathways in a valley surrounded by either high sided hills or craggy rocks. At Milldale there were zillions of ducks and magpies (and a very conveniently sited coffee shop!). In Wolfscote Dale I heard some sort of falcon screaming and looking up, saw one (bigger than a kestrel but definitely not something like an eagle / buzzard) carrying what looked like a young rabbit. It landed on a rock and then there was a lot of bird screaming with the female, I'm guessing, looking for the food...eventually he took off and amazingly passed it in mid-air to the female who then shut up and flew back to the nest with it...fab! I then went through a small wood and out into rolling hills - you would never know that such a fantastic and magical place existing just beyond the woods. I then followed the path into Hartington which was a lovely busy village where it seemed everyone knew everybody...they were very friendly and the postlady gave me £5 and another guy gave me £10...very profitable day! The area is littered with disused lead mines. There was a fab long downhill where I was able to really stride out from Highlow Farm (Low means hill or something like that...rather like the Tre and Pen from Cornwall!). A herd of heifers in a field next to the lane decided to join me on my downhill run and it was 3 fields before they were abruptly stopped from going any further by a stone wall...they made me smile! I had a rum 'n raisin icecream at The Old Smithy in Monyash...yum! It seemed that all cows HAD to be milked around 4pm as they were all either making their own way back to the farm or being rounded up by a landrover! There was then a very long uphil l but what goes up must come down, which it did, into Taddington and onto Priestcliffe. Margaret and John were exceptionally welcoming...nice cup of tea in their lovely garden followed by the well received offering of lamb stew and a glass of wine! Apparantely I was really excited when I arrived...definitely a day where I wanted to bottle all the smells, sights and sounds and keep forever!
Mileage 19.5

Day 26 - Abbots Bromley to Ilam
Sincere apologies for the AWOL situation - totally unavoidable I'm afraid as I'm now in 'non-internet' territory!
Anyway, back to the diary....chilly and overcast morning again so t shirt and leggings. Mary told me the road I was intending to take was private so better be 'armed with an excuse!'. Decided to chance it anyway but at Dunstal I was suddenly faced with 'Private Drive - strictly no footpath'...bah humbug farmer!! Anyway, a Mr Frogitt told me to use it anyway but it was a bit scary knowing that I was blantantly trespassing! Hurried past a couple of houses and didn't even stop when I saw a herd of fallow deer - I have no idea if they were wild or farmed. Picked up the Staffordshire Way again so sigh of relief! Met a postie in his van who had never seen anyone on the footpath and promptly donated £2. Across zillions of fields either containing curious cows or meadows of wild flowers (dandelions, buttercup and clover which all make a satisfying slapping sound against my trainers!). I slightly lost the SW running through a lovely gully dotted with railway sleeper bridges over a meandering brook into Utoxeter and ended up further down the main road than I intended, but soon back on track and popped into Tesco for a sarnie and replenish a couple of toiletry items! The checkout staff were giving me strange looks as I repacked my backpack! Another racecourse visited then across grassy fields to the underpass of the A50 by the lovely stone Dove Bridge. Had lunch sat on a hilltop surrounded by white blossomed trees - the blossom was falling like snow storms. There was a lot of shooting and I assumed they were blasting pheasants but turned out to be a clay pigeon competition. Across flat sheep (again!) filled fields and past two huge barns both being renovated and both with the same nesting holes as in the barn a few days ago - is this now a legal requirement on all conversions? Then followed the River Dove past public school and a small flock of strange looking sheep with massive perms! I was then supposed to pick up the Limestone Way in Rocester but only found one sign on the whole footpath - bad! Thank goodness I could work out the route using the location of buildings and the river! Many of the stiles didn't have any signs at all so the only way of knowing which way was to look for trodden grass or vague direction of dots on the map! Went in Calwich Abbey Estate and all the boards told walkers to 'stick only to footpaths' - there wasn't any ruling for runners so I went by my map and not whether or not there was a marker or stile! 100% accurate route by following my own route! At Ousley Wood met by very steep lane all the way into Stanton where my legs started not to want to work - very tired! Undulating lane until meeting the A52 and then dropped down into the valley again and back up the other side. One thing I have noticed is that all the hedgerows have totally disappeared as has all the birdlife - all has been replaced by dry stone walling but unlike the Cotswolds this was grey stone. When I met the A523 I should have gone straight across to my overnight stay but knowing there was no possibility of any food being available I had to detour left (downhill!) into Waterhouses for fish and chips which I ate propped up behind a wall in a field! Then retraced steps (up a very steep hill!) into Calton where I took the footpath which soon disintegrated into nothing but littered with rocks. Initially couldn't see the road ahead so thought I'd somehow gone wrong but it was there...very very minor road only going to Throwley. It was mostly uphill (most of today seems to be up!) until I reached the top where the view was fantastic - free roaming cows and sheep and a long downhill to Throwley Hall Farm, right next to a run of Throwley Hall. A kestrel constantly circled right outside my window and kept landing on the phone wires. There was a very sick cow in the pasture that the farmer was giving glucose to - it didn't look very well at all. 3 horse riders were staying for a few days and then doing circular rides around the area.
Mileage 21.7 (GPS ran out of battery at 18.92 and although I know I went much further, I'll have to go with my map mileage) - time unsure!

Communication issues. 24th May

This is John, Carole's husband signing into Carole's blog on her behalf.

Carole has safely arrived at Edale, at the start of the Pennine way, however unfortunately it appears she will not have access to the internet to update her blog for about another week. Carole just wanted me to let everyone know she hasn't fallen down a hole or run out of energy to write her blog, well not just yet anyway. Full service should be resumed in around a weeks time.

Day 25 - Penkridge to Abbots Bromley
The day started off well as one of the staff at the Littleton Arms gave me £10 first thing - her daughter had had leukemia in her childhood and she told me that I had inspired her...another nice morning. Couldn't find the footpath through Penkridge so after a slight detour I went under the M6 with a shortish run along the canal towpath until crossing a bridge and picking up the Staffordshire Way. Initially I lost the footpath and followed what appeared to be a distinct trail through a cereal field : a guy was walking ahead and actually took the correct route so I backtracked and followed! When I reached a small copse I was trying to work out whether I needed to take the bridleway or footpath when a voice suddenly boomed 'hello, hello'...it was the guy phoning someone in the middle of the trees but I thought I'd gone a little bit cuckoo and could hear the trees talking! After Bednall, more cereal fields but this time I can actually see what the crop is - wheat, as the ears are showing. A nice sandy track uphill took me into Cannock Chase Country Park : the Staffordshire Way was extremely well marked and the terrain exactly like the New Forest ie sandy trails with lots of open plains covered with heather. A lovely downhill track took me down to Sherbrook Valley and the brook which I followed through beech and fir tree coppices and eventually out onto the A513. I planned to make a visit to Shugborough Park where everyone was dressed as in 1805 so you could ask them about their lives but they weren't aware of anything from the 20th and 21st centuries! Taking the shuttle bus to the house, Bill the driver got chatting and told me he had cycled John O'Groats to Lands End in 45 hours as part of a relay team 20 years ago! A quick look round the house (which was the home of Lord Lichfield of photographic fame) where I met one of the room ushers who had 'crewed' for Bill's cycle team - he gave me £10! Tea and treacle cake (with cream for energy!) in the teashop then a walk around the grounds before setting out again on my journey, this time picking up the SW over Essex stone footbridge and dropping down to follow the canal towpath. This time there was lots of activity both with boats and people - seems everyone was out painting their vessel. Saw a duck with 12 ducklings and a pair of swans with 6 cygnets. I was a bit miffed at being 'overtaken' by a guy out running but he was only going 4 miles and didn't have a backpack! I didn't have the heart to say how far I was travelling! Wildlife tour continued with the sighting of a rat who quickly scooted back into the vegetation. Having left the canal I then ran into Colton across buttercup strewn fields. I spotted a tawny owl which appeared to be fast asleep in a tree and 'stalked' closer to get a photo before it flew off...quite a wildlife tour today and this was definitely the highlight. I went the wrong side of a strip of trees, ending up at a farmyard in error - having retraced my steps I bumped into the farmer and acted exactly like a 'tourist' ie apologetic and surprised when I eventually found the correct route. Unfortunately this was a path between nettles and barbed wire so impossible to actually run without risk of sting or cut. I then dropped won to run below the dam of Blithfield Resevoir and into Abbots Bromley. St Nicholas church houses 6 famous reindeer antlers and a hobby horse costume which are used in the annual 'horn dance' held on the 'Monday following the first Sunday after the 4th September'...it's believed to date from 1226 although the antlers are even older, having been carbon dated back to 1065 and therefore extremely valuable. Just a short jog upto Marsh Farm for the night. Unfortunately no internet - nearest would be library in Sheffield for which there is hourly bus but didn't think open on Saturday anyway! Unsure when I'll be able to next update blog - feeling more isolated now! John going to put 'temporary communication problem' notice on web! Ongoing plan was to eat in castleton but really nothing else to see. Went back to coffee shop I visited yesterday for latte and chance to write postcards. Back over hill but this time via Hollins Cross view point. Sun was lovely on way up met about 25 walkers coming down but windy once hit top and down other side 3 new boies in my room! Wrote down days adventure as no way I'm gonna remember! Start Pennine Way tomorrow and to be honest I'm a little scared!
Mileage 20.38 and time 4.42

Day 24 - Bridgnorth to Penkridge
Sincere apologies everyone for the lack of communication but I'm all up and running (excuse the pun!) again now and signing in from Priestcliffe courtesy of John and Margaret. So, story continues.....
Yet another fab breakfast (still not bored of the 'full English'!). Melissa kindly gave me £5 and another couple staying donated a further £20. Sunny so although I'm still donning my leggings, I did opt for a t-shirt today. After sadly leaving my 'country mansion' my route took me through fields of sheep and then a bridleway through some woods - very wet, boggy and muddy (again!) but there was no way that I was going to start the day with wet feet so took it very slowly and was careful where I was putting my feet! Dropped down to the River Severn and across a footbridge and then through Apley Park where a couple in a car stopped me, thinking I was from the public school and playing truant! Running through a field of cows it wasn't until I'd got very close that I realised there was a HUGE bull just feet away but luckily he wasn't bothered in the slightest. Went through a gatehouse and via a track through woods to Stockton where I picked up the Monarchs Way (this was supposed to be signed via a logo representing the Royal Oak tree at Boscobel in which Charles II hid with Colonel Carless, the Prince of Wales crown and the ship The Surprise on which Charles eventually escaped to France but all I found were stickers on a few lamp-posts!). It was a fairly flat route now mostly on quiet lanes. At Beckbury I crossed some fields full of some sort of cereal then more tracks and then round yet more fields of the same cereal crops stretching for over 2k....huge! By now the weather was overcast and a little chilly. I did pass one windmill but bit disappointing that it didn't have any sails. My legs were starting to feel really heavy this afternoon and it took me a while to twig that most of my day had been spent on the road as opposed to grassy fields and combined with my backpack weight wasn't really a great recipe! Crossed the M54 (yet another motorway to tick off) and soon on a bridleway alongside the walled boundary of Chillington Hall which I had to run all the way round to get to the other side (the estate filled 6 squares on my map!) and then continue on my NE route. I nearly trod on a pheasant and when she flew off I was unsure who was more startled! The Hall was actually a big red bricked mansion which wasn't particularly pleasing to the eye but did have a huge avenue of oak trees that stretched for over 1/2 mile with rare breed cattle grazing quite contentedly. I then dropped down to cross the canal and on into Brewood. Gently undulating lanes then took me across Watling Street (Roman road - dead straight and now the A5) and continued on these all the way through to Penkridge where I was staying at the Littleton Arms, a lovely brasserie type restaurant. The manager had kindly agreed to me doing a collection and after plucking up the courage to cold-call on people, they donated a fantastic total of £77.50. I met a party of 4 people - the lady proudly told me that she had just completed the MoonWalk marathon in London which raises money specifically for Breast Cancer Awareness. One of the men she was with unfortunately had just been diagnosed with cancer : she was quite emotional when she found out what I was doing and proudly said that it had made her evening....I felt very happy that I had done a little to make her feel that way.
Mileage 21.89 and time 4.42

Day 23 - Bewdley to Bridgnorth
Felt I was being a pain at breakfast! Had to keep asking for things ie white sugar ('cos I'm fussy), brown sauce and decided not to go for the full house by asking for another pack of marmalade! Clearly no donation to my efforts here! Also got woken up at 6.30 AM by a tractor left running right underneath my window! Anyway, no sign of rain today as the sun was brightly shining albeit it was a little chilly so still donning the winter running gear. Stayed on the left bank of the river this time and after briefly following the Worcestershire Way (marked by a pear sign), picked up the North Worcestershire Way (marked by a fircone). Nice wide grassy tracks right next to the river with the Severn Railway following the same route on the right hand bank. I passed what was left of the old bridge of the disused line which crossed the river just north of Bewdley and then just before the Trimpley Reservoir the first steam train came along heading for Bridgnorth. After hearing the familiar horn, I legged it for around 200 metres (no mean feat with a full backpack!) in order to get a view of the train through the trees. Just afterwards the train crossed the river over a lovely metalled bridge and I was gutted that I hadn't managed to get this far as it would have made a brilliant picture. I wasn't sure how long it would be before the train arrived coming from Bridgnorth but decided to press on anyway. Again, it was extremely muddy underfoot when travelling in the woods and I met a group of mountain bikers who weren't doing a great deal of good to the footpaths anyway (I'm sounding old aren't I!?). The Severn Valley Country Park was about half way so decided to take a slight detour and grab a sandwich and cup of coffee - there was a great view of the valley from the cafe window and another train came round the side of the valley which was great timing as that made a great picture. I transferred briefly to the cycle way which ran alongside the railway line as far as the station at Hampton Loade and then picked up the Severn Way again alongside the river. Just before getting into Bridgnorth I missed the temporary redirection signpost for the Severn Way and instead, followed a rather overgrown footpath a bit too close to the river - there were quite a few landslides and I was scrabbling periously close to the edge at points! It was only when I reached the road at the other side that I saw the 'temporarily closed' sign! Bridgnorth is actually at the top of the hill but to reach it I had to climb one of at least 6 flights of steps. The market town was buzzing which surprised me for a Sunday afternoon. Got a few provisions (chocolate to eat whilst watching the film tonight and another bottle of Lucozade for my journey tomorrow!) and then ran through the town arch and headed towards the small village of Nordley where I was staying for the night. The Albynnes is a large country house farming sheep and with the long downhill run on the private drive, gave me a fab initial view...definitely got the thumbs up! Melissa has kindly lent me the use of her laptop to update the blog and she's also washing my running gear!
Mileage 20.06 and time 4.32

Day 22 - Worcester to Bewdley
Unfortunately John left last night so I'm all on my lonesome again! At least I've had two good meals with perfect company over the last two nights and it was great seeing him again. This morning is dry but very grey so unsure how long I'm going to last without my wetsuit again. Stopped off at the post office to deliver a few postcards back home then headed back towards the Severn. I wasn't aware that the racecourse was so close to the town : I literally ran straight into it! It really is on the edge of the river and was badly damaged in the severe floods (last night John and I found markings in the wall near the cathedral which showed the height of all the floods over the years : although the June 2007 wasn't the highest, it was well up there and even when I was on the footpath beside the river, I still couldn't touch the tide mark!) - I can clearly visualise the TV footage of the sculler rowing down past the furlong markers in the home straight! I didn't get out of Worcester before I took a break as there was a University rowing competition in full flow on the river and it was quite interesting watching them from the bridge. When I did set off again, it was a lovely run along well maintained paths -at last I met 3 more runners but 2 of them were running in the opposite direction and the other was on the side of the river! It was extremely quiet, just the noise of the breeze in the trees and birdsong (including several cuckoo although I still haven't seen one!). Having run through the grounds of a pub with every imaginable farm bird including peacocks roaming free, the footpath was then diverted around yet another soil and gravel excavation plant at Grimley. At Top Barn Farm there was a massive dog agility competition going on so again, any enforced stop! Some of the dogs were really fast (and it was obvious that this was a very serious affair!) but quite a few got a little bit carried away and kept jumping the wrong obstacles. Stopped for lunch at a pub in Holt Fleet then crossed over the river onto the right bank. The drizzle was back so jacket got another airing but luckily not for long and it was soon tucked away in my backpack again, although yet again I've got wet feet! There was plenty of Canada geese including a few fluffy goslings and the lovely run continued through field after field. I didn't pass or meet a single soul. It was a bit of a muddy run through the country park into Bewdley and having then crossed the river again, this time via the pretty stone bridge (I think designed by Thomas Telford?) located my accommodation for the night - this time I was staying in a pub (Woodcolliers Inn) but for the 3rd time in my journey, they didn't have my booking listed (I've now phoned up all the B&Bs for the next week or so to make sure they all have me down....which they do!). The landlady was a little bit 'off' and intimated that it was 'impossible' that they've lost my details! Very basic room and I had a big spider in the shower room for company! She also wasn't very keen on helping me dry out my wet (and now very smelly!) trainers so looks as if I'll start off with wet feet (again) tomorrow.
Mileage 17.56 and time 3.44

Day 21 - holiday (again!)
Damp and grey this morning so hoping it was going to be a bit brighter further north we drove (first time in a car for 3 weeks!) to Kidderminster and then decided to take a trip on the Severn Valley steam railway up to Bridgnorth (which I'll be running to on Sunday!). Lovely journey along the river, over viaducts and through tunnels. When they had all the torrential rain last June, much of the underpinning of the railway and the topsoil was simply washed away, leaving the tracks suspended in places. They've had to do a lot of renovation in order to enable the trains to run again and all the places where the damage was done and landslides occured was clearly visible. Now in Bridgnorth library to read the new comments and add a bit of an update for today as unsure when I'll be able to get to an internet for the next few days. On the way back, we were seriously impeeded by a loose ewe and her twin lambs - they simply refused to get off the line and we were basically 'chasing' them in the train which was really funny. Even the engine driver got off at one point and tried shooing them off the line which didn't work. Eventually the problem was solved by a mass let-off of steam which frighted them off the line and allowed the train to pass safely.....bring back the age of steam, it's much more exciting!
No mileage!

Day 20 - Tewkesbury to Worcester
Oh dear...the weather has finally broken but I've got a great tan so far (even if I have lines!). Definitely going to be needing the waterproofs and donned long leggings for the first time in 2 weeks (they actually came in handy for defence against nettles too!). Bob definitely felt guilty over loosing my booking so no charge for the night which was great. Needed to pick up the Severn Way but this was currently on the other side of the river so followed footpaths and bridleways across Shuthonger Common (one point I had to go all the way round a field as they were spraying it with something - definitely didn't want to get a mouthfull of that!). Back over the M5 (if I didn't know that I was still travelling northwards I could have sworn I was going round in circles) and through a lovely old, thatched village of Uckinghall. There was a lot of soil quarrying just afterwards but the lakes that had formed or been formed as a result, hosted a whole load of birdlife : herons, swans, ducks, curlew, lapwing, Canada geese (which are probably the only ones I could immediately recognise). I missed the footpath somewhere along the way and ended up running / walking ('cos the fields were ploughed up to the edge and very uneven which made safe running virtually impossible) round 2 sides of a field before crossing illegally over a barbed wire fence into a Christmas tree plantation and finally out onto the track beyond - it was only then that I refound the footpath : only about 10' across and nicely mown...how on earth did I miss that?! At Upton Upon Severn the Severn Way crossed to my side of the river so the first few miles were easy running along the embankment. I then had a bit of a close interaction with a herd of heifers - they were definitely scared of me running through their field and galloped all the way to the end before crashing into the metal gate...they then turned around and started galloping straight for me so I baled out underneath the electric fence! It was only when they stopped and stared at me that I found out there was a big black bull in the field too! I stayed on my side of the electric fence! At Severn Stoke there was an optional diversion of the Way all the way round the bend of the river but I took the shortcut across the fields instead (no medals for going the long way round!). My shoes and leggings were absolutely soaked not just from the rain but also from the wet grasses and I was doing my bit for the environment by picking up hundreds of seeds on my wet leggings and then auto depositing later on down the route! At Kempsey, just outside Worcester it stopped raining and actually begain to feel a bit warmer - there were large motor boats moored alongside static caravans which had been raised about 6' and were complete with patio doors and wooden sun decking - the river was about 10' lower so unsure if these were just to enhance their views or as flood defences incase of another catastrophy as happened last year. Unfortunately the nettles were back (hence the earlier mention of my legging defences!) and appeared no-one had done any footpath management as entire stretches of it were covered and impassable : needed to create a new footpath along the edge of the adjoining fields. I saw the bright irridesent blue of a kingfisher darting from tree to tree. Unfortunately the footpath was closed for some reason at Diglis locks so I had to divert onto roads into the centre of Worcester. Stopped at the government offices for another stamp for my passport and was helped by the pa to the Mayor! For the first time, I couldn't find my B&B (didn't help that the road didn't have a road sign!) so had to phone them for directions - I was actually only about 200 yards away anyway. John's arriving tonight and staying tomorrow too which will be fantastic as I haven't seen him for almost 3 weeks. Also looking forward to a Chinese meal tonight so I'll probably pig out somewhat! I can always run it off! After updating the blog, went to warm up in a coffee shop plus caught up on the recent news by reading a paper cover to cover! A couple got chatting to me, took a note of my blog and handed me £10....then had a fantastic meal at The Four Seasons - the staff were brilliant and to cap it all, there was a group of lads who got a little bit vocal (the swear box we have at work would have been racking in the fines!) but one of them offered to buy us drinks as an apology - my wine glass was still full so suggested he donate to my efforts instead (very cheeky of me I know but I'm getting quite good at this!) and to my surprise, he donated £10 and wouldn't let any of his mates leave the restaurant without giving something - the next table then followed suite and I ended up with a whopping £74.12 (and almost a packet of chewing gum!).
Mileage 18.28 and time 4.20

Total mileage 342.55

Day 19 - Charlton Kings to Tewkesbury
Yet another sunny day but a bit breezier. Geraldine cooked up a fab feast for breakfast including fresh fruit (which normally isn't on my diet agenda!). Started off by travelling via the Cheltenham Circular Trail (26 miles funnily enough, around the outskirts of Cheltenham!) - got an injury early on by not picking up my knees high enough when tackling fallen trees - drew blood and I'll probably have a bit of a bruise but I think I'll live! Then rejoined my familiar friend, the Cotswold Way : part of the early morning route followed a dry-stone walled track which was easy running towards Cleeve Common. Bit of a puff getting to the top as although not steep via the track, it was uphill all the way but the views from the top over Cheltenham and the historic racetrack were fantastic. Once I'd reached the Common, the wind was a bit brisk but it was like running in the New Forest - short cropped grass courtesy of the ever-present sheep (and these ones weren't the least bit bothered that a scary human was running within a couple of feet of them unlike most sheep I'd encountered) and gorse bushes covered with bright yellow flowers this time of year. I had been lulled into a false sense of security as the route was initially fairly level but it soon brought me back to reality as it descended and then ascended very sharply to Cleeve Hill and across yet another golf course. At this point I was to say goodbye to the familar acorn signs of the Cotswold Way for good. Skirting around the top of Nottingham Hill I came across Wickfields Farm which looked as though it had recently undergone a huge restoration - one complete side of the barn now included what appeared to be nesting holes for pigeons and swallows which I thought was quite novel. Having done the hills, I then dropped down through Prescott which is where they hold the famous speed hill climbs in old cars (Bugatti seems to be the popular choice there) and at Dixton, I transferred to the Gloucestershire Way - this definitely wasn't as well signed and I had to rely more on my trusty maps to work out the direction. I had never thought of Labradors being guard dogs but at Oxenton there were 5 'ferocious' looking beasts all chained to individual kennels announcing my arrival in their territory. It was then an easy flat run through fields of cereal crops (now knee height) to Claydon before crossing the M5 once again into Tewkesbury. Arrived quite early in the afternoon so put on my tourist hat and visited the abbey, then went into Bay Tree coffee shop for a toasted tea-cake and coffee. I got talking to 3 people in the sunny walled garden who were making a documentary on last year's floods and it turned out they were from Parley! Julie and Andy Heath who owned the coffee shop found out what I was doing and not only did they 'sub' me my lunch, they also gave me a cheque for £25 - transpired her mum has terminal pancreatic cancer. When I arrived at my B&B, they didn't have my booking and even worse, were full for the night! Transpired they had done the same as Mary at Kingrove and not transferred my booking from their old diary! So, having created a bit of a panic for them they transformed their son's bedroom into my room for the night - he'd only been there the night before so I have no idea what they would have done if he was still there! Walked back into Tewkesbury to the Wetherspoons pub for tea and had another donation of £4 from a couple on holiday. On the way back, did my bit for the wildlife as a duck stupidly mistook the road for the river and made a bit of a crash landing. Luckily, an approaching driver saw the incoming missile and braked hard, avoiding a catastrophe...I then had to make a lot of noise to get the duck to take off again and do it properly!
Mileage 19.37 and time 4.36

Day 18 - Middleyard to Charlton Kings
Started earlier this morning : another lovely day weatherwise and the sun was already warm. Didn't stop in Stroud, instead briefly touched the main circular road then headed uphill on the long, drawn out climb out of the town. Stopped at the post office in Gainscross to get another stamp - they're boring but at least it's a register of my passing through. Up through Paganhill, Bread Street (weird names some of these places), Whiteshill and reached the top at Scottsaqua Hill where I then descended via National Trust land into Painswick and back onto the Cotswold Way again. The next 7 or 8 km were through some lovely woodland with a brief emergence onto Painswick golf course : I started to chat to an old guy who asked me where I was running to. He then proceeded to tell me his whole life story in 15 minutes! Apparantely he used to run for Henley Harriers and represented England in the 220 metres (once round the track in those days!) in an international against France at Crystal Palace - unfortunately the French won that day and it was obvious he still isn't happy about that! The path took me through sunlight dappled woodland of beech and fir trees and whilst very easy underfoot was extremely undulating with some very steep climbs in places. Squirrels were everywhere and I've now got used to the bounding sound they make and don't stop dead in my tracks looking for something a bit more exciting in the way of wildlife! I emerged from the woods at The Peak and Barrow Wake just past Birdlip where there were some fantastic views from the viewpoint high up on the hillside. Lunchtime so stopped at the Air Balloon where I had a donation of £5 after chatting to a young family...worth wearing my printed shirts all the time! Decided not to follow the Cotswold Way back up the steep hill to Crickley Hill Country Park so instead dropped down into Ullenwood and picked up the Way again over Leckhampton Hill. I saw my first deer of the whole journey, nibbling in a plantation - my stalking to get a closer shot with the camera came to no avail as she lay down in the shade! There's an unusual and precarious stack of rocks high on Leckhampton Hill called the Devil's Chimney, quite where it came from and how it was formed I have no idea but it looked impressive. Along the top of the hill but then missed a footpath sign (well it was well hidden in the bushes!) so ran around an extra 1/2 mile in the wrong direction before back-tracking and finding the offending direction to then have a lovely downhill run across another golf course and into Charlton Kings. I was staying at The Studio owned by Geraldine and Frank Smith and within 5 minutes of arriving was sat in the sunshine in the garden drinking a glass of wine! Great first impressions! Later on they took me down to The Langton Arms where they'd already 'prepped' the manager (Dave) that I was turning up and he had kindly told a few people what I was doing and that I was looking for donations - a massive £97.20 was collected including a single donation of £50 from a guy who I think was suffering from cancer himself....it took me ages to get to sleep that night as I couldn't get over how generous people were in giving money to a total stranger on faith.
Mileage 20.51 and time 4.48

Day 17 - Chipping Sodbury to Middleyard
Mary was brilliant and didn't want any money from me so there are nice people in Gloucestershire! I felt a bit bad when she started to cry as she'd lost her dad to cancer. Nice start to the day with me picking up the Monarch's Way through Little Sodbury and then quite steep uphills through fields to Horton where I treked upto the fort and found a millenium tower built for owls and swallows to nest! The Monarch's Way was then joined by my old friend the Cotswold Way and I followed these via chalk bridleways and grassy fields to Hawkesbury Knott where there was a monument to Sir Somerset. On via tracks to Hillesley where I stopped for lunch at The Fleece and received free drinks for my efforts...definitely nice people here! Then a lovely run down past fields of cereals to Wortley where the footpath then went directly through a tall field of rape seed - I ended up looking extremely jaundiced and covered in yellow! I went round the next field! On reaching Wooton under Edge the Cotswold Way suddenly really picked up and I was suddenly crawling up a near vertical footpath onto Wotton Hill. However, at the top I saw a huge dog fox sniffing around and the most stunning views yet - I could see Wales and the Severn Bridge! Still more climbing through lovely woodland on well marked tracks to Nibley Knowl monument where I climbed all 120 steps upto the top! I then followed the Cotswold Way down the steep hill again only to find it doubled back up to the top field where the monument was! Bad move!! Back on the village lanes I was faced with a huge hill (made the one up to Wotton Hill look tame) well named Breakheart Hill and then dropped down through Folly Wood to Dursley where an ice-cream didn't even touch the sides! Out the back of Dursley the Cotswold Way was temporarily moved which appeared to add a bit extra to my mileage. Strangely I decided not to follow it up the near vertical hill of Peaked Down and Cam Long Down and instead continued on the valley floor before then having to climb out of the valley into Coaley Wood where again, it was an undulating but very well marked and maintained footpath to Coaley Peak viewpoint with 180 degree views both over to Wales but also showing where I'd come from that day. The rest of the way to Middleyard was through lovely beech woods covered with wild garlic. A really great day through stunning scenery but very hilly (mildy challenging they say!). The locals apparantely don't eat at the local pub but anyway, it closes on Mondays (like I would have known that!) so Pam kindly cooked me lasagne and garlic bread followed by strawberries and cream - whilst delicious after a long day's exercise, definitely wasn't a patch on Pam's at Northlake (nor was the company!). I've got burn marks on my back again but worked out these are from the stitching on my shorts so will roll them down slightly in future!...not too painful at the moment though
Mileage 22.84 taking 5.41

Day 16 - Bath to Chipping Sodbury
Yet another gloriously sunny day and after breakfast Caroline (another BJ!) arrived. Tricia decided to stay in Bath for a little bit of shopping and after I had offloaded most of my 'luggage' with Caroline's husband John and therefore feeling so much lighter we set off back down Bathwick Hill into the city centre. First stop for sightseeing was The Crescent which looked stunning in the early sunshine. On the outskirts of Weston Park we picked up yet another long-distance footpath : The Cotswold Way, which was extremely well marked but for the first mile or so, climbed up over Dean Hill and Kelston Round Hill with views both sides of Bath and Bristol. At the top we found not only a viewpoint but also Bath racecourse (unfortunately although I pass several racecourses on my travels over the 10 weeks, I haven't planned it very well to coincide with any race days!). After running round the fort ramparts we ran alongside the golfcourse before crossing into my 4th county (Gloucestershire) and being faced with a lovely monument topped off with a griffin, in memory of Sir Bevil Grenville who was killed in the 1643 Battle of Lansdown that took place in the fields we were about to run through. We met quite a few people early on but the last people we saw were just after this monument! We ran through lovely undulating grassy fields with fantastic downhills (hand-break off time!) although it was a little boggy by the fishing lake (wet feet again...maybe I have to have wet feet each day!). When we climbed back out of the valley, we were amazed to find a seat with a sign 'tea, coffee, cold drinks 50p' seemingly in the middle of nowhere - there was a tiny garden centre so we just had to stop for refuelling on refreshments..it would have been rude not to! Dyrham Woods were simply covered with white star shaped flowers and smell of wild garlic and were a joy to run through. Then, we suddenly came across 2 green plastic chairs...in the middle of the woods...in the middle of nowhere! We just had to occupy them and have a photo stop - it was then that we spotted the message box which contained a notepad and pen in a plastic box - what a fantastic idea! So having added our own comments and names we continued on through the undulating fields before arriving at the National Trust Dyrham Park where we had scheduled to meet up again with John. Unfortunately Caroline was suffering badly from a cold and having downed a cup of tea and slice of cake, decided to call it a day there which was a real shame but totally understandable - I hope you feel better soon. They kindly offered to take my luggage to a rendevouz point of the first junction after the M4. I missed the footpath heading for Lower Lapdown Farm but bck-tracked and soon picked it up : missing signpost. Crossing the noisy and busy M4 I met up with them again and picked up my stuff. I then had a lovely run through a massive private estate of Dodington Park which is apparantely the home of Mr Dyson of hoover fame. Across Kingrove Common to my B&B for the night - unfortunately Mary didn't have any booking for me but luckily did have room! It was a fabulous old farmhouse. Having walked down into Chipping Sodbury for something to eat, unfortunately the Spar was closed for refurbishment and although there are 7 pubs (old market town) none did food in the evening! I ended up getting an Indian take-away and sitting on the market cross like a little waif and stray - this is the only bit of the trip that I don't particular enjoy!
Mileage 19.94 taking 4.36

Day 15 - holiday!
Tricia's arrived - hoorah!! All checked in at the YH and sipping cups of hot choc...everyone else has gone so I have the internet all to myself. Going to be grockles today but just thought I'd update the total mileage I've covered so far, which is quite staggering.....drum roll please........137.4 in the first week and a further 113.37 in the second making a total 250.37 WOW!! no wonder my legs feel a little bit tired! We spent the morning wandering round Bath - the plan was to go to the Therma Spa in the evening but found out we couldn't pre-book so would just be a case of turning up and hoping that it wasn't already full! We decided to go and visit Prior Park so grabbed a couple of sarnies from Subway. Established that the easiest way to get there was on the Bath tour bus (it's all uphill and didn't relish the trek up there to be honest!) but the ticket man was a real 'jobs worth'...yes we could use it as a shuttle but we weren't allowed up on the top deck and didn't get the 1/2 price discount 'my dear' for being National Trust members...still, the £2 charge was worth it as we were dropped right at the entrance. After walking round the park, we dropped down to the lake and ornamental bridge where we ate our packed lunch. After a bit of a photo-shoot, we slowly walked back to the YH via the Bath Skyline footpath - yes it was a little bit on the undulating side but Tricia really enjoyed it and the views were stunning. After picking up our swimming stuff, we headed back down into the city and after grabbing something to eat, checked into the baths : glorious! There's a rooftop heated pool, 4 steam rooms and a bath with jets that move you round the pool! It was soooo relaxing and I felt so much better. We had a rude awakening during the night - someone decided to go to bed at 2.30 AM and just to make sure everyone was awake, to switch the light on then go have a shower (still with the light on) before bedding down at 2.45 AM!! But in true Brit style, none of us complained...we're useless. Still, we did make sure we made a bit of a noise when we all got up!

Day 14 - Gurney Slade to Bath
Disgusting breakfast..have no idea what it was cooked in but tasted horrible so left most of it (also think it was all budget food!)...am I selling this B&B to you all? Mrs not very friendly left early (hoorah!) but said that £30 cash or cheque should be given to her husband...daylight robbery if you ask me! Anyway, I was already packed so duly gave him the dosh and departed, not caring if running so soon after breakfast would give me a stitch. Soon picked up some nice footpaths through fields although did at one point think I was taking the wrong path - no worries, should learn to trust my directions more. Into Chilcompton and then a nice downhill run into Midsomer Norton - after the green fields and countryside, this was a grey monotonous town covered with telegraph wires and cables so not nice (apologies to anyone who knows anyone who lives there). Out the otherside and through fields (I keep getting wet feet!) and into Radford where I picked up the Limestone Link Path. Strangely, the first few hundred feet were right through several people's back gardens and I don't mean at the bottom of them - right past their kitchen windows! Radford has a lot of association with mining funnily enough and there was a heritage trail that I followed for a short time over some of the old mining town. Following the Cam Brook through field after field after field was easy enough running as it was flat, although I did have to watch my footing as there were potential hazards with the cow footprints! At Dunkerton I crossed the river and stopped for a while mesmorised watching a couple of buzzards 'playing' with a crow - I'm guessing the crow had a nest nearby and was trying desperately to divert the attention of the hunters. Then found quite a few damselfly which weren't around a few days ago - must be the warmer weather that is now making them transform. At Combe Hay I decided to take a liquid refreshment break having found a lovely outpost called The Wheatsheaf - very laa-dee-dah with prices to match (small bottle of coke was £2!) but the gardens were lovely and the sun was shining and I'm on holiday! After quenching my thirst I ran along the valley again and then almost had to crawl up a hill it was sooooo steep (15 degree up!) - I'm sure the down side wasn't as long as the up! The good news is that when I reached the bottom of the 2nd hill, a signpost said there was only 2 1/2 miles to go to Bath! Anyone who has been to Bath will know that it is very, very, very hilly round there and whilst I had a lovely scoot down to the town centre, the YH where I was staying for the next 2 nights was up near the top of Bathwick Hill, so whilst I was able to pick up the Bath Skyline footpath across fields, it was still another uphill to the finish. The hostel is really nice so already a more positive outcome than last night!
Mileage 17.01
Time 4.13

Total mileage 241.61

Day 13 - Street to Gurney Slade (that well known village in deepest darkest Somerset!)
As there was no provision for breakfast (and the other woman...or was it a man? I was beginning to wonder! well she was beginning to alarm me with her actions and comments - she was travelling onto another YH further north to be a volunteer but it's not any of the ones I'm due to stay in) I decided to head off earlier than usual and stop in Glastonbury for something to eat and drink. Another lovely day in paradise as the sun was already warm even at 8.30. After sidestepping Street, I headed off across yet more Somerset levels towards the dramatic folly standing high on a hill. I had initially planned to climb upto the tower but the closer I ran, the higher the hill became so quickly put that idea out of my head! Glastonbury is a lovely little town but you will see some bizarre sights as it's central to the myth and magic of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table - lots of colourful clothing being worn and loads of street entertainers dotted around. I grabbed a thick doorstep bacon sarnie and coffee and watched the world go by for an hour or so - this is what was so important for me to do on this trip (not the eating / drinking bit, but to see the sights and sounds of the country). I then headed out of Glastonbury and after yet more moors and drainage ditches, started to head into the hillier landscape. I did see a lovely big vixen but unfortunately the farmer on whose land she crossed, clearly didn't appreciate her - she'd either been shot or poisoned and the farmer had then hung her body on one of his fence posts : what the point of this was I have no idea but I guess he'd also killed any cubs as they would have been too young to survive without their mum - very sad postscript. At Launcherley I spotted a white stone statue way up on the top of the hill, depicting the dragon logo of Somerset. Picked up the Monarch's Way for a short time before dropping down underneath the A39 and into a really pretty village called Dulcote (certainly not Dull!)...complete with village green and fountain. There were even people outside their houses for once! Undulating lanes then took me through Dinder and onto Maesbury Castle (presumably Norman?) of which just the outer ramparts remain albeit covered with grass. Tonight the BJ's are going to be running at Hengistbury Head near Christchurch as a memorial run for our friend Lucille Dickenson. Unfortunately she died on New Years Day this year and they were going to be laying some flowers in her memory. I decided not to actually pick any to do the same as I thought they were much nicer growing in the countryside, but I did do my 'memorial run' thinking of her. After dropping down off the ramparts I again picked up some little country lanes into the villages of Binegar and Gurney Slade, where I was staying for the night. Not somewhere I would recommend nor return to I have to admit! The B&B landlady was actually out when I arrived so my plans of reading a magazine in the sunshine in the garden went totally to pot. The house was also right on the A37 so lorries thundered past! When she turned up around an hour later, there was no apology just a 'didn't think you'd be arriving so early'...I didn't call 3pm early. Anyway, to make matters worse, she asked me to wait in the dingy front room as she'd not even made up my room. After that, I went down the pub to read a magazine in their beer garden - yet another slaughtered lamb although the barmaid was very friendly. Had healthy home-made burger and chips there (with the two pub dogs sat by my table eyeing me up!) and then retired to the lovely B&B for the night - at least there was a TV to keep me occupied!
Mileage 18.6
Time 4.10

Day 11 - Tiverton to Taunton
Really sorry for the lack of regular updates but I'm finding it tough locating internet sources - it appears that it's only Bournemouth that has internet cafes! I'm currently in Glastonbury library and although there's normally a timelimit per 'visitor' of 20 minutes, the very kind librarian has let me stay on for another session...Had a fantastic nights sleep last night and woke not to the sound of bleating but mooing! Bright sunshine greeted my bleary eyes and after another hearty breakfast I set off towards Taunton. The first few miles were gently undulating and I'm getting into a familiar pattern of walking up the hills and running down them. Country lanes again through tiny villages, some just consisting of one or two houses. Halberton is bigger and dates back to the Norman times (everything aged seems to be from the Norman era!) with a very attractive little church that I had to run all the way round and then an ancient duckpond. Unfortunately the top half of the village was very run down and delapidated which was a shame after the bottom half. After a couple of fields I dropped down to the Grand Western Canal so at least this would be level going for the next few miles. Unfortunately no canal boats and I only passed a few people on my travels. No locks but plenty of tiny brick bridges which just added to the serene views. Running through Sampford Peverell I actually recognised the trail from a previous visit - quaint little church right next to the canal and a 'postman pat' like bridge up into the village, ducks and swans aplenty....get the picture (am I making you jealous?). Unfortunately just afterwards, the canal passed quite close to the M5 which spoilt the scenery and tranquility a tad. The hot weather caught me out a little and by the time the canal ended I was gasping for a drink - unfortunately hadn't come across a single pub alongside the waterway so had to take a 3/4 mile detour into Holcombe Rogus to visit the local pub (luckily the signposts from the canal tell you exactly when the village facilities are open / closed to avoid an unnecessary journey!). Duly refreshed I retraced my route back to the river and then followed the West Deane Way across several fields (some of the signs were a little to be desired and took me straight into a bog....wet feet again!) but on the whole the route was well signed and used. I tried looking for another drink at Bradford-on-Tone where there was both a pub and post office - unfortunately both were closed! It's no wonder so many post offices are closing these days if they only open in the morning! Where are they when you need one? Still following the river along the WDW across a lovely big field of small cabbages, I eventually got to the outskirts of Taunton where, like an oasis, I found a great little corner shop and stocked up on refreshments. My B&B was only about 1/2 mile away so walked the rest of the way. After chilling for a bit I walked into Taunton town centre in the evening in the hope of finding an internet cafe but no joy...pizza for tea!
Total mileage 25.4
Time 5.40

Day 12 - Taunton to Street
Sue Haynes (another Bournemouth Jogger pal) had phoned to say that she was going to come down to Taunton to join me on my day's adventures and safely arrived with her bike. In the meantime, I did manage to update the blog for day 10 using the (very) slow pc at the B&B : unfortunately both the O and U keys were missing on the keypad so I had to proof read my typing very carefully (apologies in advance if I missed any letters!). Yet another warm sunny day so duly plastered on the suncream and donned the sunnies. The first stop on today's journey was to the County Council offices in town, to try to get another stamp in my passport - they were very helpful and I eventually left with an official county seal for which the legal guys had to give authority...I feel priviledged! Then we headed off through town and picked up the towpath of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal which again was very peaceful. The first young birds were starting to make an appearance - there was a pair of swans with 7 cygnets and a little later on, a couple of ducks with 2 young. We spent a bit of time watching some vigorous movements in the reeds, hoping that we might see an otter but they turned out to be created by some massive fish..whatever they were doing they were certainly having fun! At Bathpool we passed under the busy M5 and continued to Creech St Michael and onto Charlton where we left the canal and instead crossed over the railway line and continued our journey alongside the River Tone. Whilst there were plenty of gates, most of these were easily opened (apart from a couple where we had to join forces and lift the bike over) and the journey was really pleasant along a high bank. Then we hit trouble with a capital T in the form of stinging nettles....Sue came up with the brilliant idea of using her bike as a battering ram - the rape seed and hedge parsley had no defence against this weapon but when we lost the footpath we hit serious problems as the weeds were head hight and there were huge stingers hidden in them....by the time we decided that this wasn't actually the footpath, our legs were tingling all over and covered in red dots and wheals! Not pleasant. We decided to back track and then found the footpath had 'moved' to the bottom field instead! So just a little bit of a muddy bog to negotiate...To recover, we decided to have a lunch break at the foot of Windmill Hill - Sue had raided Waitrose earlier and laid on a terrific spread of munchies which probably wasn't the greatest fuel for running but tasted lovely anyway. Then we hit the road again, running alongside the River Tone but with a row of houses between - some of the houses were really well kept and quaint whilst others were ramshackle and appeared to be left to basically fall down which was a real shame. Over the railway line and into Athelney and onto Burrowbridge where I took a small detour from the route to visit Burrow Mump for a photo stop, a derelict church atop a hill owned by the National Trust. Going into Othery we seemed to hit the only hill on the Somerset levels and Sue zoomed past me on her bike....not fair. Ice-cream time at the local shop! At Beer Door, Sue elected to follow the minor lanes whilst I decided to take the 'shortcut' across the fields and meet her the other side - bad idea! back to stinging nettle territory every time I got to a stile which was bad news for my legs! At the next footpath sign, decided to play safe and go the longer lane route instead. Across King's Sedge Moor we briefly saw what we thought was a cow struggling to calve but it turned out that she had somehow fallen in one of the ditches and was being dragged out by a tractor - bit undignified! Caroline (yet another BJ...Bournemouth Jogger) phoned to say she was going to join me on my run on Sunday...getting to be a bit of a BJ reunion this trip is which is fantastic news! I was beginning to struggle in the last miles despite the flat terrain (Sue was getting very bored of the same endless views by this point!) and my legs hurt! Sunburt on the back of them, whipped with stinging nettles and having been pounding out almost 200 miles in the last couple of weeks - not that I'm complaining, but just wanted to let you all know that this isn't a holiday! Anyway, enough of the complaining...long trek across Butleigh Moor and then up through a bridleway to emerge at the top of Walton Hill. Great views of Glastonbury Tor in the distance and the marvellous sight of the Street YH at the end of the woods - we were both looking forward to a lovely cup of tea but unfortunately it was purely self-catering and NO MILK!! so we just had to scoff the rest of the cakes without liquid refreshment and the Sue set off to cycle the 15 odd miles back to her car at the Taunton B&B but this time she decided not to follow the same footpaths (although I did say that we had already battered down most of the stingers on our way through!) and went via the mainish roads. I really did enjoy her company today so thanks Sue! :o) The youth hostel was about 1/2 mile outside of Street and there was only me and another lady staying the night (she did kindly offer me use of her goats milk but then added that she needed to make it last for the next 3 days...talk about give and take in the same breath!). It was all very quiet and strange! Unfortunately whilst they did have a pc, my website was blocked so no updates for that night. I walked down into the village to try to grab something to eat - bad idea! All the shops are in the High Street, but I wandered around for at least 1 1/2 hours and didn't find it at all...just about to give up when I spied some locals and asked them...1/2 hour later I was stocked up on pasta 'n sauce, rice pudding, lucozade and MILK! Whilst cooking my pasta I put my music on speaker and started singing along - little did I know that the other woman was quietly reading in the other room, in direct earshot of my wailing! Oh well...she didn't complain.
Todays mileage 22.9
Moving time 5.29