Day 52, Shepperdine to Gordano (Portbury), Thu 27 Aug

Summary
Today’s distance: 27.6 km (17.1 miles)
Total distance: 1265 km (786 miles)
Distance to go: 364 km (226 miles)

Report
The previous night I had made camp early at about 4:30pm as the sky was looking very black, enough the rain started and was then on and off all night. However, I was nice and snug in my tent. I had camped just to the side of the Severn Way path and North of a power station. When I passed the power station this morning I realised it was a nuclear power station. I'd prefer to have a scintillation counter if l am to go anywhere near a nuclear facility.

I finished the Tesco nuts for breakfast and was on the road/path by 7:05 am. I had an uneventful walk south apart from an annoying diversion into Oldbury-on-Severn to bypass a 10metre bridge. Still not sure of the reason. I passed plenty of steers or cows today, it was one thing or the udder, and a few horses. Cows are very inquisitive and tend to follow on behind you once you have passed them. However having seen what they do to PVC cable in my research days I would advise against camping in a field of them. The cow pies would be the least of your worries.

I stopped at a very nice and cheap bakery at Severn Beach for tea and cakes and then made my way to Chittening Warth where I lost the path and went by road to Avonmouth. In Avonmouth I paused in another bakery for coffee and to buy orange juice. Then I made my way beside the M5, over the river Avon, and then by a cycle track. After a brief spell of loosing my way, I eventually reached the Gordano services.At 50 pounds the bill is a record for my walk but when you average the cost with last night's, where I paid for nothing for accommodation and had no meal or drink in a pub, the cost is not too horrendous. It's done wonders for my morale. I had a good long soak in the bath. I checked they had baths as well as showers before I paid the bill. It may seem strange a Yorkshireman wanting a bath or shower every day as it is often thought that we use our baths to store the coal. However, most Yorkshiremen don't spend 8 to 10 hours a day walking.

I walked to the Priory pub in Portbury for an evening meal and discovered the roads are unsafe for a walker. I was able to sort out the best places to cross without the encumbrance of a pack though. The pub was the busiest pub I've been in on the whole walk.

Those of you l have contacted by e-mail tonight please note that this has only been possible because I have had access to power at the motel. Contact will be largely by the blog or Colin again from tomorrow onwards.