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Published: June 25th 2016
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Started out okay - didn't go under any ladders or anything but something was working against us. The morning was nice with a super English breakfast and then R&I dropped Lynn and I for coffee in town while they drove our luggage to Mickleton and left one car and came back to us in the other. We hit the trail which was flat for about a half mile and then we started our first climb of the day. Not bad. Good view of the rain clouds in the east and those in the west. Later as we crossed an open field we stopped for a cookie under the only tree in sight and the thunder roared and lightening cracked. Now Ian is a grounding expert so we weren't to stand under a tree and we couldn't cross over the field because we'd be targets. For a while we obeyed him and stood as far from the tree trunk and tried to stay dry. We all had raingear but we were dripping all over. Finally we could go and now we just had to watch out for all the slippery wooden stiles. These stiles were definitely made for a higher crotch or
longer leg than mine. I had to grab a pant leg one at a time to help lift a leg over and then move down backwards as I couldn't reach the ground. I much prefer the kissing gates. After many fields, sheep and woods we were reaching our lunch at The College Arms in Lower Quinton. Body was priming up to get into that washroom. Turned the corner and lo and behold they were closed for renovations. The contractors luckily let us use the wasrooms but there were no lights so I'm not sure I made the toilet. After a stellar lunch of peanuts, an apple, chocolate, lemon cake and water we headed on. One minor wrong turn (someone changed the name of their cottage ) and we were on our way again. Through woods, fields, sheep and cattle pastures, rain and mud we came to a nice dry woods and as we exited the other side a deluge poured down... not just rain but HAIL. Ran back into the woods for another cookie break. Now we had a steep climb up out of a valley. Ian has a really good GPS and was reading our altitude out to us
regularly. We thought only 2 miles to go. Passed through Hidcote area and a massive tree branch was downed in the storm and traffic was blocked. But we were okay because we were walking. Now we had to switch to pavement and my calves started screaming at me, then my insoles (I could feel the blisters growing), next the knees. I realize I am 67 and maybe shouldn't be doing this. Now the hips seemed to weigh a ton and didn't seem to be attached to the right bones. I had used some cream (thank you, thank you, JS) that had eased the morning muscle cacophony but now the whole body was reacting negatively to this walking thing. I finally convinced everyone to walk across a field to save steps and give my legs a rest from pavement. We got all the way across and no way out - high impassable hedges or lower hedges but people's backyards. Two of those peoples came out to tell us to get out and go back the way we came. No compassion when we said we lost the footpath. I should have just fainted there and then they could have had the police
come and then we could have had a ride back into town. Now the rains came again. Five more blocks to the hotel. Felt like forever. As soon as I had the room key I was filling the tub with hot water and taking Advil. Then a frantic hunt for my suitcase key - stuck in the mesh in a corner of my pocket. Going to bed as soon as I finish this. Goodnight and I hope my knees can bend in the morning.
32,194 steps
50 flights of stairs
sticky toffee pudding: 7
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Tot: 0.474s; Tpl: 0.017s; cc: 10; qc: 47; dbt: 0.1761s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Dianne Gudlaugsson
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What fun!
I knew there was a good reason that I don't go hiking! Hope you recover OK