Mon 29th

Our start today took us along the Kennet and Avon canal where I took this photo of a narrow boat. Later we crossed the Frome river on this Lovely bridge and went passed the ruins of Farleigh Hungerford castle.

Help with accommodation

We had great difficulty getting accommodation yesterday round Castle Combe. It is fairly near both Gloucester and Bristol. We night have same problem on return leg, so if you know anyone who Could help out please let me have their phone number as I've left my address book at home! A call or text would be great as I cannot see the Blog comments on my mobile. 07952 169596

Days 16 and 17

Saturday started foggy, which caused us problems as we Could not see clear direction across huge fields. Our intention was Avening to Luckington, a distance of 11 miles but we could not get anywhere to stay and had to go on to Castle Combe them get a lift to Biddestone for accommodation. The walk through Westonbirt Arboretum was lovely with autumnal colours. Today was warm and sunny with the sun soon burning off the mist. The last time we did this walk we were amused to see a knee-length stilleto-heeled bright pink boot and a pair of pink sling-back shoes nailed to a log in the woods in Husseyhill Woods. This morning we were disappointed to see the boot drab and colourless, without the sole and the shoes hardly recogniseable. A pair of gent's loafers had joined them. As it is a Sunday we could not get a sandwich in the pub so survived another day on a liquid lunch. Now in Bradford on Avon for BandB. 16.9 miles yesterday and 11.2 today.

Tunnel House

We walked along the towpath of the old Thames and Severn canal today. the tunnel is over 2 miles long, constructed in 1789 and abandoned in 1927. It enabled boats to cross the Cotswolds from the head of the navigable Thames at Lechlade to the Severn.

Day 14

A mixed day today. We started in Cirencester, along the old tow path to Tunnel House Inn and finished in Avening. On the way we saw green woodpeckers, buzzards, deer and a lizard. Unfortunately we also witnessed a car driven by 2 young lads plough into a tree at high speed on a country lane. They both got out almost unscathed but the driver was extremely worried about what his mother was going to say. The car looked like it would be a write off. Another lovely sunny day for us and only 11.3 miles in 3hrs 38mins. We are reverting to the longer walks on Sunday to bring up back on time schedule. G's new boots and 1000 mile rocks seem to have eased his foot problems. New knee supports for me are helping a little.

Day 13

A short day today, only 9.15 miles in 2hrs 56mins. Most of it along the joint Macmillan and Monarch Way by the river Churn. The Romans must have liked the huge snails around here. We did some shopping in Cirencester - new boots for G and knee supports for me.

Update

We really are crossing off the counties now! At just over the half way point on the way down we have walked through Lincolnshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Today we are having a day off in Cirencester.

Day 12

Lovely walk today from Bourton on the Water to Chedworth. 12.1 miles in 4hrs. We walked past Chedworth Roman Villa eating from between AD 180 and AD 350. Some excellent bath suites and mosaics. It stayed dry - weather and pub lunches!

Day 11

Exhausted last night but left Long Compton refreshed at 9.15am. The rain caught us before lunch. We were welcomed like old friends by Simon at the Horse and Groom 4 lunch. Again the book distance was inaccurate. It said 11.25 miles but our GPS logged 13.5, then we had to do another 2 miles into Bourton on the Water to our accommodation. Walking time today 5hrs exactly, so still averaging just over 3 miles per hour even with fields and mud - which we have had plenty of today.

Day 10

Today we walked from Edge Hill to Long Compton - a book distance of 13 miles. Georges new high power GPS Logged it as 17.8 in 5hrs 30mins. Again lots of hills and several missing markers. However we did find a pub open at lunchtime and the landlord made us cheese sandwiches. Had our first rain today but not too bad. George's dev are causing concern. If is trying to brush it off but he is obviously in pain. If thinks it is the boots he thought would be fine but which had not been tested over this many miles.

Day 9 mileage

Day 9 proved to be exceptionally challenging. The Macmillan Way book have the distance as 13 miles but our GPS logged it as 22 miles and we were walking for over 7 hours. There were lots of steep hills and several way markers missing. It was growing dark by the time we got to our accommodation - a folly castle built where the flag was planted in the battle of Edge Hill in 1642. We had the whole of one turret which was separated into single rooms and a suite. The view from the windows was spectacular.

Mid day 8

Frustration today as missing signs and poor map interpretation caused us delay and a couple of extra miles. Back on track now and enjoying pub lunch.

Day 9

Another beautiful misty morning. Today we start from Moreton Pinkney and will walk to Edgehill where the famous battle took place. About 13.5 miles according to the book - we will see!

Day 8

Another short day today. Only 10.8 miles in 3 hrs 31 mins. Glorious sunshine but no pub 4 lunch. We stopped 4 a cup of tea on the roadside by a farm and the farmer came out 4 a chat and gave us a 20 pound donation! We later stopped at the National Trust house at Canons Ashby 4 a great ploughman's lunch before walking the short mile to our accommodation.

Day 7 mileage

We are having trouble getting accommodating. We've had to curtail today's walk in order to get somewhere to stay. Only 8.64 miles in 2hrs 44mins. We had some awful newly-ploughed fields to cross.

Day 7

Booking accommodation is proving to be a challenge. Lots of places closed down. Walked over the M1 this morning and passed the 100 mile point of the walk.

Day 6 mileage

15.4 miles in 4hrs 45mins.

End of day 6

We had to sit outside the pub waiting 4 it to open at 2pm only to find it had no food! The night stop pub/hotel made up 4 it. Excellent meal and a 4 poster bed! Another dry day forecast 4 today.

Day 6 lunch.

On day 4 pub closed at 1pm. Today the pub doesnt open till 2 but as we have time in hand we are sitting in the sun waiting 4 it to open in 30 mins. Have walked through the old railway tunnels near Oxenden and again seen this old iron bridge with no steps.

Day 6 start

It took of until midnight to re-schedule the overnight stops. Today is Great Oxenden to Holdenby. Most of it along a disused railway line with long, dark tunnels.

The new SCC?

New territory for Stanbridge Strollers?

Day 5 end

12.3 miles in 3hrs 56mins. George turned to say something to me, stepped back and fell into a 4ft drainage ditch! No damage, fortunately and I tried not to laugh! Have decided to make each day a max, rather than an average, of 15 miles. The 19 mile ones are just a bit too far with the fields having just been ploughed. Still enjoying it and seeing some wonderful flora and fauna.

Day 5

Team leader had request to scrap rest days in favour of shorter daily mileage. Put it to the vote and passed unanimously. Will now have to amend overnight stopping places. Doing well so far. Few minor blisters. Today clouds of butterflies replaced by flocks of young pheasant exploding out of the undergrowth into our faces. Managed to find a pub which was open and serving food 4 lunch.

End of Day 4

We started late but because I had not updated the mileage correctly, we finished early. Edith Weston to Hallaton - Only 14.9 miles. We enjoyed a Ruddles brew in Manton but the Sun Inn in Belton had no food, so another liquid lunch. Feet doing well. Another dry day.

Day 4

Delayed start today due to major equipment failure. Clive and George have just gone to buy a new rucksack. 17 miles will make it a late finish today! Still, better it broke now where we can get a replacement.

Day 3

Another fine day today. Lovely to walk through Stamford again. We spent a little time shopping 4 knee and ankle supports, wick-away t-shirts, brufen tablets and having a late breakfast. One of the sign posts had been twisted so we had to back track a little - not what you want to do on a walk. There was also a long diversion round the back of Ketton cement Due to quarry extension. Had a welcome beer in the cafe by Rutland Water. 17.4 miles in all today.

More of day 2

Today was a lovely sunny day and the walk pleasant but the 15.5 miles turned out to be 16.8. I think the new GPS Is more accurate than previous ones. We also encountered our 1st ploughed fields but thankfully they were not muddy. We both have blisters but George also has a sore knee. Ibrufen works wonders! Had to shoo a huge bull off the track today - fortunately he was more interested in the ladies in the other field than in us. Clive picked up up at 4.15 and we had a lovely Sunday roast with them. Long day tomorrow but we wont have heavy bags to carry.

Day 2

Lovely weather but book distance of 11 miles to lunch turned out to be 12.2 so we are tired. Having a break at garden centre at Kates Bridge near Bourne, Lincs.

Day 1

Left Boston at 9am after breakfast at Asda. Misty and damp. Started to brighten up and we could see the mist rising off the ploughed fields - glad we were not walking over them. 11 miles to the first pub 4 lunch - though they had no food. Thanks 4 rolls Liz! Saw lots of Travellers' horses and some fantastic Highland cattle. When the sun came out so did clouds of butterflies. Had to stop at 2 other pubs to fill up on liquids! Walked 19.25 miles (should have been 17.5!). Hard 1st day.

Start-1

After a final check of equipment we left Woodbridge at 11am Friday, had lunch en-route and arrived at Cottesmore at 1.45. Liz met us and signed us on camp to leave the car for 6 weeks. Then she drove us to her house in Grantham where she later cooked us a lovely meal with lots of wine! Thanks Liz - hospitality 1st class as always. On the road proper in a few hours. Sleep evades me - probably excitement- or is it the wine?