After the white van incident, a hot shower, a pint of Butcombe, a good supper and a large Malbec, I soon recovered my mojo.
After dinner, I'd had an interesting conversation with Manager, Stewart and Head Chef, Sam as they looked at bookings, rotas and planned deliveries for the next few days. They descibed particular challenges facing hospitality at the moment - rising prices, prices even changing between order and delivery, unpredicability of supply, shortage and dependability of staff, distribution of tips and the effect that was having on labour rates.
Perhaps these are just a small selection of the Brexit Benefits that Rees Morgue promised!!!??
The route I'd planned from Compton Martin
led almost immeadiately to some gorgeous, quiet green lanes. Walking up Breach Hill I was met with the Reception Committee.
My route bypassed the wonderful sounding Nempnett Thrubwell - ( which always sounds more like an ailment) but it did go through the nearby Babylon where I met Brian.
Brian keeps 50 sheep - all Texel "mules". He said he always 'kept them in' when lambing because they each have two lambs and it makes it easier for him to keep an eye. He mentioned that Welsh mountain tend to have one lamb because on higher ground, lambing outside, if they had two the mother would only be able to protect one and the fox would have the other!!!
Brian had an 11 year old Staffie sheepdog with arthritis, who still likes doing the rounds in the LandRover but doesn't like getting out since one of the rams had a go at him some time ago........
There is a pecking order in this life!
Old Bristol friends, Mike and Vero had very kindly invited us to stay for the next couple of nights so, in advance Mike and I had arranged to meet at one of our previous watering holes in Dundry.
Because of the Texel Mules, I was late ( well that was my story) and Mike had therefore decided to wait for me at Winford where he even had time for a doze in the churchyard - ahh the pleasures of retirement!
After a cheese roll from the local shop, we were suitably nourished to continue on our way to Bristol - along the Monarch's Way.
It's great walking and talking with Mike. He has always been passionate about local politics and environmental issues and has been a popular Local Authority and Town Councillor for years - often a thorn in the conscience of the bigger parties.
A short distance up the hill, we popped in to see Mike's son Louis who was working on a self-build, off-grid house on a beautiful South facing site surrounded by farm land.
The surrounding fields are awash with colour, yellows and reds, buttercups, clover and dandelions that have just turned.
Our planned route took us through All Saints church, Long Ashton
where Mike recalled that Colonel Dyer (The Butcher) of Amritsar was buried. We spent twenty minutes looking for his grave unsure of whether seeing his rank, it would be proudly displayed or perhaps passively forgotten and overgrown.
After a fruitless 20 minutes, we decided to stop at the 15th Century pub next door, The Angel where we very quickly concluded we deserved a pint.
The timing of our climb up through Ashton Court couldn't have been better - as we arrived at the Suspension Bridge entrance an X4 turned up and whisked us to Portishead where Vero and Sally were waiting with mugs of tea. Sally having travelled over from Arundel. It was great to meet up.
By the time I'd had a shower, the sun was setting and it'd started raining so I was.
even more pleased to be safely ensconced in the warm and not be wild camping in the open somewhere hiding behind a gorse bush!
A really enjoyable day.
Total distance so far = 301.6 miles
Total ascent so far = 41 160 feet
If you're tempted to contribute to any or all of the great charities I'm supporting, here are the relevant links.
Parkinsons UK - My dad had Parkinsons in his latter years and the research work this charity funds and the support it provides to patients and their families is invaluable. - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-thomas215
Just Wheels UK - this is a small charity set up to provide wheelchairs in a rural community in Tanzania. It does this through funding training, education and the local fabrication and servicing of bespoke wheelchairs. My nephew uses a wheelchair and as he grows I can see the life changing freedoms that proper wheelchairs can bring to both users and their families.-
https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a056900002H35TDAAZ
- RNLI - these are the brave guys who selflessly head out to sea to help others. I volunteer at Littlehampton RNLI shop and often meet families of those who’ve had first hand experience of their loved ones being saved from the sea. Having sailed for years I can say thankfully we’ve never had to call on the RNLI's services but it’s amazing what it does to know they are there
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-thomas216
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