Families with Dogs

Day 4 Hiking, July 20.

11.6 Miles, 27,901 Steps. 6 Hours.

“God help England as she had no Scots to think of her.” George Bernard Shaw

Sorry but I still have Scotland on my mind.

Shared breakfast table with 3 from Essex who had come for the nearby Air Show (British version of the Oshkosh event). After eating cereal, and the full English, they each finished it off with a couple slices of toasted white bread. The lady was going to toast more but her partner reminded of the planned stop for a big lunch at some fancy place on the way home.

Lois had the muesli with fruit and yogurt, and No toast.

Example of a narrow path squeezed between properties to give access for everyone.

Getting closer to Bath 55 miles.

Table partners updated me on those 99 yew trees by the church. Apparently if there had been 100 the story goes it would have let the devil into the village, so only 99. Then at some recent point in time someone actually counted them and it turns out there are exactly 100. Painswick must be dealing with the consequences.

Another example of the path on the left and a home on the right.

On arrival at the Trig Point the clouds were blowing heavy wind and rain. Hurried as fast as possible to get down lower amongst the trees.

Once the Trees were reached there were cows chewing what cows chew, and the path was full of their remains.

Parted ways with Janina my hostess from Romania with a French name.

Dogs and dog parents and kids with kid parents were out in droves in the afternoon up walking in Standish Woods. The dogs are extremely well behaved. All were off leash/lead and stayed close to their parents. When they passed me they barely glanced my way. Certainly not American dogs.

On a scale of 1-10 this rated about a -2. Never again.

Example of why it is important to take the correct path.

Water in the top right is the River Severn dividing England from Wales.

Important to know which circle you are to be following.

Stile to climb over.

The woods were filled with trees whose trunks were totally covered in vines.

Another stile to squeeze through.

The two paths look like they are going down to the same place, wrong, know your correct path.

This was a tricky stile but after the first 3 of 7, had it figured out.

Came down through a vineyard.

Future wine.

Went past this large English prep school.

These boats along the canal were for people with disabilities.

First SWANS

I must be in the Cotswolds!

Stonehouse Court Hotel where tonight’s pillow is. “The hotel is a restored 17th-century manor house overlooking the rolling hills of the Stroud Valley and the Stroud Water Canal.”

From a wedding photographer’s advertising their way to record some couples special day.

Garden Salad (hard to eat the beautiful 6” long stems in a small mug, the presentation was great, but getting it into the mouth in a semi dignified way, not so great). The Cod and Pancetta fish cake was Delicious!

What the Stonehouse looked like prior to restoration. Still tried to imagine Lord and Lady Grantham gathering with the family for pre-dinner cocktails along with the Dowager Countess of Grantham - played by the late Maggie Smith.

Wore an elastic knee brace. Had trouble with left foot during morning climbing up and down and up and down on narrow trails in the misty rain. At some point sat and loosened all the laces up to the toes which seemed to take some pressure off the top of foot which was the part Hurting. Also in the afternoon when the path flattened out put into practice what Devin taught me - walk Heel then Toe - and don’t get into the habit of limping. That did seem to help.

Today felt like a long walk and the body was tired. Trusting that the extreme hilly parts will be winding down.