Train, Train, Bus.

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Day 8, July 24.

7.62 Miles. 18,312 Steps. 3 Hours.

Brooks Guest House, Bath to Cotswold Hare, Cirencester (She Ren Ses Ter)

Good bye to couple from Holland. They were now dressed in ‘town clothes’ she in a dress while I am still in semi dirty and well used hiking clothes.

Half hour walk from B&B to train station. Train from Bath to Swinden, 2nd train to Kemble. People movers. What a marvelous idea. Trains all over the country, connecting large and small towns, and if the towns are off the rail, there are buses to connect in many places. Too bad America lost their train service.

Had a direct view into the kitchen/cooking area from my table. Interesting to see how things were premade and ready to go. Tomatoes on a tray, bacon/ham, pots of cooking foods bubbling such as porridge.

How They deal with garbage. Sturdy reusable bags to put all the stuff into specific categories. Cardboard, food stuff, Glass metal, just junk. I believe these containers are then emptied into some larger truck. It would’ve been Interesting to see the process involved.

Waiting for the train on the platform.

Lady with her little dog about to board the Train.

A very fancy lady came and sat next to me while we waited for the train. I was so taken with her shoes, And also how her toe divides showed. I have a problem with that kind of a gap. But who could complain when she can walk in those heels.

The fancy woman got on the Train with me and once we got started it turned out, She was on the wrong train. She wanted to go to London, not out into the middle of nowhere such as I was going. Had to return and take another in the right direction.

My train

Arrived at Kembal the start of the Thames River path. I had to ask directions from the stationmaster how to get to the source of the Thames River. He directed me out to the road turn left, Follow that road turn right, follow that road turn left at the pub.

At the Thames Head Inn, I went inside and asked directions how to get to the source. Nice gentleman showed me an aerial photo and how to get the 3/4 Miles out there. He also suggested I don’t come back the way I came by road, but follow a trail, Which I did, but I missed the turn off to catch the trail back up to Kembal. Ended up crossing three fields of grain up to my Thighs, scrambling through a blackberry briar patch, and another over barbed wire. Arrived back at the road with more bloody scratches on my legs.

My route will be the Woolwich, London. 185.2 miles.

SOURCE OF THE THAMES RIVER!! A pile of rocks this time of year.

On arrival in Cirensester at my B&B the Cotswold Hare - learned my hostess Kathleen is half American half English. She spent time growing up in Connecticut and New York. The reason the Hare Is such a symbol in this town is because there’s been an archaeological excavation and they discovered a very old mosaic of a hare From Roman Times.

After riding the bus and chatting with an elderly woman who had only travelled out side the UK to Spain. She complained about how dry the countryside was, we arrived at the city of Cirencester. I headed for the police station to get directions to where my pillow is for the night. Nice officer looked up the directions and came out of the station and pointed me exactly where to go.

On the bus a Japanese couple was sitting opposite to me. The man ran his video recording all the passing fields the entire time. The woman sat behind him in a very traditional shimmery dress with lots of bead work on it. She also had shoes with equal amounts of shiny bead work - very Glimmery. When we arrived at the city, I looked back and saw them taking photos with the bus driver, and then the lady got into the driver seat and posed for more photos. Very cute.

There are Hares all over town In all sorts of variations.

St John Baptist. The church was originally begun in 12th century.

Of course, when we go out for afternoon tea, we bring our dog with who has equal access to the table.

Hares Enjoying the Dance of Life.

1679

1630

Ann Boleyn Cup

Yesterday’s Falafel rated on the scale of 1-10 a definite 10!

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