I realised a couple of things about my shortened day yesterday. It was the first day I had started without enthusiasm – too tired and too hot. Today, after a rest and extra sleep, I fully got my ‘mojo’ back, and really enjoyed the walk, even through the last two hours were hotter than ever.
One of the real plusses was that the hotel started breakfast from 7.30, and served it quickly, so I was away by 8.00, which is the earliest so far, but very much preferable, especially in this weather.
The route was also great – minor roads all the way to Winscombe and then The Strawberry Line, a footpath on the route of a disused railway for the rest of the way. Very few cars on the roads. LOADS of bikes. Nearly all flat walking. A perfectly placed Co-op (sandwich etc) and pub (lemonade, water top up, loo) in Winscombe at 11.30. What was amusing was that the pub had run out of ice, and the Co-op had run out of bottled water! 8.00 – 3.30, 17 miles, in some ways the ideal walking day.
The route crossed the rivers Axe (as in Axbridge) and Yeo (as in Yeovil) and the M5 (which was in earshot nearly all morning). Only 10 miles from where Ben lives and only 32 from my old home town of Yeovil. The nearest I will get to anywhere I have previously lived. I also passed through Sandford, a small town completely dominated by the orchards, factory and distribution depots for Thatchers Cider. In fact the old railway line goes through the middle of their plant.
My brain finally switched on creatively today. I suspected plot lines and song ideas for a new musical (working title ‘a Portrait of a Lady’ but Henry James had stolen that idea) would start invading my mind while on the trip, but for some reason it did not start until today.
Today‘s destination hotel was the first one where the room had a bath. I thought about a good soak but decided I might never get out, so just took the shower option. The hotel turns out to be a Hungry Horse, so lots of (albeit non-gastro) options for food.
With regard to standard of paid for accommodation (am I boring you?), I have already made the comment that the cheaper places have so far done better on the whole. This continues to be broadly true.
These are the things I have been hoping for:
(I am leaving evening meals out of the equation as not all places had them available, nor did I take all of them up when they were so)
Clean and comfortable room (everywhere has been fine on this front to far)
Coffee/tea making facilities in the room
Biscuits available with the above
Wifi that is easy to connect to and which works
A quiet environment, without staff generated noise or slamming doors between 9.30pm and 8.00am
Breakfast available from at least 8.00, preferably earlier
Breakfast served swiftly
Cooked breakfast available
A chair, and something that will serve as a desk, even if just a dressing table.
Believe it or not nowhere, out of twelve hotels/B+Bs so far, has yet ticked all boxes, though the Porthtowan Airbnb ticked every one except cooked breakfast and I knew about that when I booked. So that remains top of the league. This line of narrative has probably run its course, but I shall flag up if anywhere ticks all the boxes in future. I am not sure I am expecting too much (?)
The trip takes on a new rhythm from tomorrow. I have had eight days in hotels and no walking companion for nine. In the next week I have only one hotel, and there are a number of walking companions too. AND the weather is changing, though of course proper rain, which I have not had in nineteen days, is likely due. And I get a rest day on Tuesday, not having had one since day 7.
I have now done a quarter of the trip in terms of days as well as miles, and reaching Bristol tomorrow certainly seems like a milestone. The South West peninsula will be done with then - next stop Welsh borders!
I have now watched some TV but have still not bought an ice cream.
Today's route
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Daily Data
Days left until John O’Groats | 57 |
Route miles walked | 283.74 |
Route miles missed | 12 miles owed to sponsors |
Estimated miles until John O’Groats | 772 |
Evening and rest day walking | 4.5 |
Counties walked through | 4 (I am counting North Somerset as a unitary authority) |
Ferry miles | 0.4 |
Number of walking companions so far | 3 |
Number of stiles crossed | 42 |
Current sponsorship total | £12,283,82 |
Cast of characters (Bold = walking companions) | Jeremy Pemberton, Laurence Cunnington, Brad Poulson, Adele Poulson, Graeme Parkhill, Andy Hellwig, Patrick Lynn, Esther Lynn, Emma Rayner, Quentin Rayner, Sara Low, Robbie Low, Christopher Darwin, Heather Darwin, Christine Hytch, Chris Hytch and Annown, Hilary Edwards, Richard Edwards, Rachel Robbins, Mark Robbins |
i would concur with your tick list for overnight accommodation Guy! Have fun in the (hopefully) cooler weather. We aren’t too hopeful today as the forecast thunderstorms for today have changed into wall-to-wall sunshine but it IS cooler. Good luck and well done so far. Alyson and Glenn