Day 56, Flaxpool to Wimbleball Lak, Mon 31 Aug

Summary
Today's Distance: 22.6 km (14 miles)
Distance completed: 1366 km (849 miles)
Distance to go: 262 km (163 miles)

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It's been one of those rare days today where l haven't got lost and had to back track. I left Flaxpool about 7:30am, after chatting with a group of walkers who were walking the Macmillan Way. It was overcast all day, especially when l climbed above the 300m mark. l think l was just walking in low cloud. I made my way on very quiet minor roads all day. A good route in that respect.
I went via Tolland to Brompton Ralph where l got into conversation with two ladies, one whose day it was to work in the shop. The shop was closed but she very kindly opened up to sell me food and drink. It was the only shop l passed between Flaxpool and Wimbleball Lake, the downside of todays route.
From Brompton Ralph l followed the route to Clatworthy and along past the reservoir to eventually reach Wimbleball Lake by 1:30 pm. At 6 hours l think that is my shortest day.
There is a good little tea room beside the lake which also acts as reception for the campsite. I started with steak pastie and tea followed by a walkers cream tea.
There is a pub within about a mile and a half at Brompton Regis and l will head there for my evening meal . Breakfast looks like being nuts and chocolate as the cafe doesn't open until 11:00am.
Hopefully my wife will be getting a hire car tomorrow and so l will no longer be constrained to picking a route defined by campsites. For example the day that originally went via Thurdon may be re-routed via Holsworthy. I just make this point in case anyone is thinking of meeting up with me. I'll try and blog any revised route beforehand. However some places, like Wimbleball Lake have no cell phone coverage. A quiet day and it looks like another quiet day tomorrow.

Update:
As my left big toe rubs in my boot l decided to go to the pub in Brompton Regis in my crocks. I also decided to choose the shortest path, over the fields, to the pub. The good news is my navigation was spot on. The bad news is the path was extremely boggy and really required boots and gaiters, but only over a relatively small section. The upshot was I had to sit in the pub with very wet feet.
Then I decided to return via the road that included a short cut up a bridleway. It was only around 8:00 pm but it was getting dark, especially under the trees. I came to a junction which wasn't shown on my map and this threw my junction counter out of kilter. Although l didn't know it at the time, l was going up the road to the west of King's Brompton Forest having taken the left instead of right turn. I could see the lake so knew which direction l wanted to go but it was too dark to read the map. I thought l would be back before it got dark and hadn't packed my head torch. Big mistake.
I decided to take a short cut across the fields but was blocked by the forest. However l saw car headlights on the road and made my way down to them where by luck l picked up a path to the road. It's obvious when you can see a map but very difficult in the dark. I stopped a car, that was coming past, to get directions to Wimbleball Lake and they said they were going there and would give me a lift. In the event l was back on the correct route and only 400m from the turn to the lake but without being able to see the map l had no idea.
I'd just like to thank the couple for the lift, as walking beside the road in the dark would have been quite unpleasant.

Day 55, Bawdrip to Flaxpool, Sun 30 Aug

Summary
Today’s distance: 27.5 km (17.1 miles)
Total distance: 1343 km (835 miles)
Distance to go: 285 km (177 miles)

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I had no breakfast this morning and left the campsite with a damp tent at 7:45 am. I did my usual trick of taking the wrong path, and making my shortcut rather long. After crossing a wide river/drainage channel I took the A39 to Bridgwater and Witherspoons where I had a 'large breakfast' while I charged my cell phone. Then I decided to change my route to avoid some early hills and left on a westerly route to Spaxton and the Hawkridge reservoir. I then went via Lower Aisholt to Bishpool and the edge of a small wood. This was a steep climb, but it was the only one for the day. I then descended to West Bagborough, and after a snack in the pub headed via Heathfield and Hearn farm to the campsite at Flaxpool on the A358.
I asked about getting a pub meal and was told of two pubs, one of which was recommended. Sadly after walking 1 1/2miles to it I was told they don't do meals after 6:00pm on a Sunday!
I was lucky that when I got back to the campsite the shop was open and I could get a frozen meal to heat in a microwave they had available. Tomorrow is also going to be a problem day for food and for charging the cell phone so there may some hold up in blogging.

Day 54, Winscombe to Bawdrip, Sat 29 Aug

Summary
Today’s Distance: 25.2 km (15.7 miles)
Total distance: 1316 km (818 miles)
Distance to go: 312 km (194 miles)

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I got up late today, after 6:00 am, as I had discovered last night that the pub/hotel next to the campsite would provide me with a breakfast after 8:00am. I left Winscombe by 8:30 am and took the path beside the A38 to Cross, where I took minor roads to Lower Weare. Then I went by a minor road and path to Badgworth. As I ended up on the wrong path the route was somewhat more circuitous than I had planned. Then I took minor roads to Stone Allerton and eventually reached Mark by lunch time. I lunched in a very pleasant pub called 'The Pack Horse' and had an interesting time chatting to 3 locals, one of whom was in NZ during the war. It was only after I left the pub I realised he must have been much older than he looked or behaved.

The countryside in this part of Somerset is very flat and criss-crossed with field drains. I imagine Lincolnshire must be somewhat similar. I followed minor roads and paths beside field drains all the way to the A38 at Bawdrip and 'The Fairways Caravan Park.' When the lady on reception discovered I was a charity walker she kindly refunded my fee so l could donate it to the charity on their behalf. What a great end to a quiet and somewhat painful day. My left big toe is starting to play up. It has been for a few days now.

Over the last few days I've been contacted by someone called Sally, whose husband has had a rare form of Leukemia, PLL. He has also suffered a transformation to lymphoma. I met up with them both this evening when they took me out for a meal to the King William public house in Catcott. I can honestly say I've never before felt so comfortable, in the company of complete strangers, as l did tonight. I can only hope Kit and Sally enjoyed the evening as much as I did.

Although my diagnosis was CLL I am very fortunate that I have been given all the good markers and may never need treatment. Kit has suffered quite a bit of nerve damage as a result of his illness. However I am sure his positive attitude and irrepressible humor have made significant contributions to his survival. Twenty pounds has been donated to the charity in thanks for the meal provided by Kit and Sally, but their companionship was priceless.

Chris, the publican at the King William, also came over to our table and generously gave me a donation of 20 pounds. What started as a quiet day has had a marvelous ending. However I must sign off as it's 11 pm and I need some sleep. Very many thanks to all today's donors.

Day 53, Gordano (Portbury) to Winscombe, Fri 28 Aug

Summary
Today’s distance: 26.3 km (16.3 miles)
Total distance: 1291 km (802 miles)
Distance to go: 337 km (210 miles)

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I awoke at 5;45 am and had my second bath in 12 hours, having removed the tent which l had been drying out overnight. I had my continental breakfast and was on the road by 8:00am. I took what looked like a quiet narrow back road to Nailsea, at least on the map it looked quiet. Whilst it was surely very narrow, mostly one lane, it was very, very busy.

I went down through Blackwell and then went about 1 mile west on the A370 before taking a very quiet back-road to Claverham. I then went via a path up Cadbury Hill to Congresbury where I took a path heading west through the churchyard to join 'The Strawberry Line.' This is a cycle track running along an old rail bed, like the Tissington Trail I had walked on a few weeks ago.

On the outskirts of Winscome I met Andrew who is writing a cycling book dealing with the Somerset area. As we chatted time went by quickly. He kindly showed me a little turnoff to the campsite from the trail. I doubt l would have noticed it by myself. A typical 8 hour day with about 16 miles covered. Now I am in Somerset, with only Devon and Cornwall to go!

As it is a Bank Holiday weekend, as soon as I had showered I went around to the pub next door for my evening meal. It made a nice change not having to walk for 30 minutes to get to the pub. On returning to my tent l chatted briefly to a Dutchman in a caravan near my tent. A short while later he returned and invited me in for a coffee. I spent a very pleasant half hour chatting to him and his wife and two young children. Hopefully the meeting will inspire the young Sieswerdas to take up camping and walking.

Photos
New photos on page 4 of the photo album

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)

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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.

Day 51, Moreton Valence to Shepperdine, Wed 26 Aug

Summary
Today’s distance: 27.6 km (17.1 miles)
Total distance: 1237 km (769 miles)
Distance to go: 391 km (243 miles)

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I awoke at 5:30 am to the sound of rain hitting the tent. For my pre breakfast I ate muesli and grapes which I had bought at a small pub last night. I was on the road by 7:30 am. I went past Moreton Valence church and then on farm tracks to Wheatenhurst. I joined the Gloucester to Shapness Canal just south of Frampton on Severn.

Just south of the Splatt bridge a bearded gentleman on a bicycle stopped and introduced himself as a blog follower and a JOGLE walker from the 1990's. Like many other LEJOG walkers he is also a TGO walker. We took to the road at Purton and Don, for that was his name, walked with me to Wanswell. There he left to cycle home, when the showers, that had been ever present, turned to heavy rain. Walking in Don's company the morning passed very quickly.

I stopped for lunch, an all day breakfast, at a very busy cafe in Berkeley. I meant to photograph the name plate of the town for my readers in the US but as usual forgot after the meal. I'd just like them to know I too have been to Berkeley. Then I headed back to the Severn Stop bank where I have camped for the night, just before a heavy and windy rain squall. This evening's meal is a bag of Tesco's unsalted, yogurt coated cashews and cranberries.

Day 50, Shuthonger Common (Tewkesbury) to Moreton Valence, Tue 25 Aug

Summary
Today’s Distance: ~34.3 km (21.3 miles)
Total Distance: 1210 km (752 miles)
Distance to go: 419 km (260 miles)

Report
I awoke at 5:30 am, washed and packed up everything except the tent and went for breakfast in Witherspoons at 7:00 am. I also got to charge my cell phone. I returned to campsite and was packed and was ready to leave by 8:05 am. I followed the Severn Way all the way to Wainlode Hill where I then took minor roads and paths to Twigworth, where I picked up the A38 to Gloucester.

I had lunch in Debenhams and then headed West to pick up the Canal south to the manually operated rotating road bridge. Then I went by road around Quedgeley and Hardwicke to Moreton Valence. No donations or interesting conversations. A quiet, but longish day at 8.5 hours

Day 49, Hawford to Shuthonger Common (Tewkesbury), Mon 24 Aug

Summary
Today’s Distance: ~30.2 km (18.8 miles)
Total Distance: 1175 km (730 miles)
Distance to go: 453 km (282 miles)

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I was up at about 5:40 am, had a pre-breakfast of the muesli bars and penguins I received as a gift at the cafe by the bridge yesterday. I was away walking by 7:00 am and was having my main, full english breakfast in Worcester just after 8:00 am at the little cafe on the riverside, just north of the road bridge over the Severn.

Then I followed the Severn Way to Kempsey, and walked beside the A38 to Severn Stoke where I had a good lunch in a pub near the church. I also asked to charge my cell phone whilst eating. While I was eating, rain came and it rained all the way to Upton where I had coffee in a pub. In the pub I received a donation from Paul and Viki when they found out what I was up to.

I then followed the West bank of the Severn to Tewkesbury and booked in at the Caravan Club site. I walked a little further than planned today to reduce the distance I need to walk tomorrow. At 17.40 pounds however it was a somewhat costly exercise. However, the camp is in the centre of town so I don't have to walk far to get something to eat.

Day 48, Wolverly to Hawford, Sun 23 Aug

Summary
Today’s distance: 26 km (16.2 miles)
Total distance: 1145 km (712 miles)
Distance to go: 483 (300 miles)

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I got up at 6:15 and had a breakfast of cashew nuts and a bar of dark chocolate. I was on the road by 7:45. I used the camper's short cut to the site discovered by D&S. I then followed the canal to Kidderminster where I found a McDonalds that was open and had a 1000 calorie breakfast to set me up for the day, a 'big breakfast' followed by pancakes.
Then I followed the canal through to Stourport where I joined the Severn River Trail. I crossed the Severn at Holt Fleet to go to the pub, but discovered the 'River Side Cafe' run by Ann and Paul Hardborne. Paul was very interested when he found out what I was doing and it was clear from his questions that he quickly understood the problems involved in making such a walk. When he knew what I was doing he returned the money l had given him for the tea and gave me a couple of muesli bars and two penguins. I've made a donation to the charity in their name. It was a very pleasant interlude in an otherwise quiet day. I think Paul may have a word with his brother, a walker, about doing LEJOG.

On the run into Hawford, on the Severn Way, I found the most dangerous stile yet for me or for any other male with an inside leg measurement of 32." I was JUST able to lift my leg over it and place my foot on the step on the other side. However on taking my weight, the step dropped a couple of inches and so did l. I leave the rest to your imagination. Those within 10 km radius may have heard a few new choice words. I think this type of stile should be named after the ballet suite by Tchaikovsky.



For the last mile I had to leave the Severn Trail and follow the A449. I am now at a quiet site at Hawford.

Also,
last week I had left one of my phones outside the pub at Biggin. My phone was found by Mark Sharp, and he drove 20 miles out of his way to deliver it to the campsite at Cannock Chase. Very many thanks Mark.

Photo update

The publcan and patrons of 'The Old Bush', Hinksford


More photos...
Go to page 3 of the photo album (link on the side bar) to see a few new photos. Usually new photos are uploaded twice a week