We were really on the ball this morning, awake and breakfasted ,packing up at just before 7. We were away in half light by 7.30. I had been expecting rain this morning but had packed a dry tent.
We had cheese sandwiches for breaky instead of porridge due to our water leaking away last night, we only had a third of a cup of mint tea each.
As we made our way to a busy Seven Springs round a bout we were tempted to stop at the snack bar in the nearby layby. Traffic was pretty heavy.
Having crossed we gained a decent track/path to Hartley Hill, lousy mist view over Cheltenham, obviously well walked popular destination. We sought and found the Devils Chimney, a tor like stack.
Light drizzle started, pretty much set in for the day with the odd increase in intensity.
Alot of the route today was fairly clean, that is mainly track or decent path for this time of year, the odd wet muddy patch, or snow drift refusing to disappear.
I felt pretty tired all day, feeling the lack of a good breaky....porridge And picking up rich tea bics instead of digestives.
It was a day of hills, which means ups And downs , my legs felt it , the pack felt heavy , so did I....I felt old!
After Leckhampton hill we walked over a deep snow drift to Crickley Hill country park. There was a loo there so was able to have a drink before moving on to the Iron age fort, which was no more than hummocks of grassy banks.
We dropped sharpley to the A417 , the noise of traffic always seemed close.
Before walking passed Birdlip ,not entering the village, we did a dog leg to the Peak ,another promontory.
A track took us out of the driven wind and rain through Witcombe Wood, the sound of shotguns echoing around us. We stopped on a pile of logs in fine drizzle, our capes had been on and off due to the warmth of the day, must of been 10°.
We finally reavhed Coopers Hill, a steep up had me gasping. We took the wrong route going up some more , missing the direction post. We soon noticed as the well posted signs dried up, J realising before me!
Again we decended to the road, stopping in a seated bus shelter out of the rain. It was so warm that we felt cosy, the main chill coming from the wind.
After a snack of smoked cheese and bread , in the dry, looking out at drizzle we walked the two and half miles to Painswick via golf course and common.
Painswick offered us delights in food and drink, basically a cheap energy drink with biscuits.We sat in another bus shelter near the impressive clock faced church.
We had done well as it was about 3.30 on leaving. We felt refreshed and moral lifted. We passed a mile stone stating we had 55 miles to go, three roe deer ran in the opposite direction .
Another good route took us to Ringhill Farm, just passed Haresfield Hill.We had seen loads of wild pitch sites but no water available had us asking at the farm.The farmer said we could pitch in an exposed field,but please do not leave rubbish, reassuring him we found a flatish , dryish spot,
pitching in the rain.
J got in quickly, getting sleepung bags sorted. It wad the fastest we had done it in those conditions. I felt chilled , and only the change of top for a dry one warmed me. J did the noodles.
He was a sleep by 9. Me , I blogged and looked at tomorrows route, possible youth hostel for friday in bath.
2875 miles
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