Off we go! A short 1km walk from my house to join this long distance path. It's very humid and I've already stripped off the outer layer. The ground is wet from rain overnight but the sheep don't seem to mind. Onwards!
Breakfast was large bowl of oats, with mixed berries, natural peanut butter and some honey. Delicious!
An hour and a half later and I've stopped for a ten minute rest. Sat under a massive sweet chestnut tree on the edge of my second village of today, I'm sat sipping water and munching on half a protein bar. I'm feeling good. My feet are a tad damp but that's the way of it. The ground has been typically undulating farmland and pasture, and the air is still warm and humid but a slight breeze is doing a good job of keeping me cool enough. My pack feels light and I'm enjoying myself.
I passed this old house just before my brief rest. It looks like over the years it was extended and extended before falling into disrepair. The ground around it has been cleared and a brand new bungalow has been built round the back.....
Quite a few kms more and it's time for lunch. The sun has made an appearance and I've got a dab on. In between villages I've not seen a soul but catching up a dog walker we had a nice short conversation. He was kind enough to recommend a pub which is on my route so I may stop for a quick slurp. Who knows?
If you're wandering how I keep the calories up on my travels, here's a look at what I throw together. Circa 3000kcal per pack.
In here is an oatmeal breakfast with home roasted nuts and cacao powder, a fast and dirty pasta meal, coffee sachets, tea bag, protein bars, a soup packet and three LMNT Electrolyte mixes. For lunch today, I've got about 25g of kerrygold butter, slathered on two slices of sourdough bread, a chunk of hard cheese and the remainder of the earlier protein bar. I've had an Electrolyte drink as well.
My evening pasta meal is supplemented with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, which tops up the calories. I keep it in a separate little container. I'll also pour some into my oats tomorrow morning. I'll stop here for a half hour before moving on.
The going has been good, apart from a very wet, narrow muddy section where I got properly wet feet...
A quick wipe through long grass got them clean if not dry. A lovely old mill was passed and I wandered what has been done to it since closure?
Under a wonderful old road bridge, then through a stable yard I went arriving in the village where I've had my lunch.
I had to take a picture of this quiet scene. River, field and sheep on the edge of an old village. What's not to like?
Further on and into the middle of the day, the sun was hot and the breeze has all but gone. I trudge on, but in a relaxed chain of thought. A very slight navigational error took me off the route but I realised quite quickly, so getting back on track didn't cost me any time or extra distance. I was able to see where my next stop was going to be from about 3km away. With the sun on my back I made my way towards that spot, and it ws only after a very sharp climb and the end of this leg that I took a short rest. So here I am....
I've rested under that large pine tree in the distance. 10 min every hour or so is my usual rhythm. Getting through these cows was fun....
Right, ten minutes up! Let's go. What a lovely day it is to....
Another hour an a bit, another rest. The sun is at its hottest now. I'm feeling it a bit. I've gone through some beautiful countryside, pasture and woodland.
There's been some sharp uphill and now my feet are starting to ache. I've taken another ten minute stop in the shade, having walked through another quaint little village. Church bells ringing, competing with the sound of a live band at the pub!.
Having guzzler 500ml of water and eaten half another protein bar. I stretch off, Don my pack and head forth....
15 mins into the next leg I took the opportunity to replenish my water supply. I usually only carry 1ltr on me and refill as I go. When I get to a source of water, I drink my remaining supply and then refill my water bottle. Making it potable I use the Cnoc 2ltr water bladder and the Sawyer mini. Works a treat.
I've pushed on through the afternoon towards my final destination. I kind of got into the zen zone and just kept plodding. The sun is rather warm and the terrain has at times been challenging. I've only seen one couple on the trail for the whole day, and they were retreating from a very overgrown muddy, boot sucking nightmare which I had just slogged through for over a kilometer..... it taxed my legs as it was slippy, covered in rose hip thorns and uphill to boot. I loved every inch of it....
I've passed through some lovely countryside, passed farms that are hundreds of years old. I've meandered with streams and rivers, been hidden in the shade of trees where I could.
I've wandered why these sheep have boxes on their heads.....
And finally, after 27.4 kms, I've reached the Abbey! Just before closing as well. Time for a well earned slab of flapjack and a diet Coke.....
I'll sit here for a good while. Then I suppose I'll go and look for a camp site for the night eh....
