Rest day then 3 good walks

Wednesday 11th October

A lazy R & R day. Merilyn washed and dried clothes and then had a nap whilst Bruce tried (unsuccessfully) to get emailing reconnected on the computer. Lunch in town at Anne Hathaway’s Tea Rooms (again). Bruce spent time in the Library on the computer and at least got a phone number to ring to contact Telstra from overseas, Merilyn dozed in the Library and then we went back to the Youth Hostel so Merilyn could have another sleep. Finished the day with a lovely meal in the local village pub. Not one photo for the day!

Thursday 12^th October

Planned to visit Oxford University on our way to Bourton-on-the-Water but changed our mind after not being able to find a parking place - all the car parks were full and the city was extremely busy. So on to Bourton we went and it was such a pretty place with a narrow stream running through the town, lovely stone buildings and five stone bridges crossing the stream, linking the town. At times it was difficult crossing the foot bridges because of the number of tourists wanting photos of themselves taken on the bridge – including us. They call the town the ‘ Venice of Britain’

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After lunch we did a lovely walk along laneways and on Public Footpaths through farmland, which took us about 3 hours. We went over little bridges, through fields, one containing cows, along a tree lined laneway, through a farm and then a very cute village – a very delightful afternoon. Late in the day I finally made contact with Telstra and they will call back early tomorrow morning and hopefully the problem will be resolved.

 

 

Friday 13^th October

The day began with another adventure on Public Pathways. This time we walked from Stow-on-the- Wold (sounds like a place out of a Beatrix Potter story and looks like one too, except it also has a huge supermarket and lots of cars), to the very picturesque town of Lower Slaughter, which is not far from Upper Slaughter, and then on to Bourton-on-the-Water from where we caught a bus back to Stow to pick up the car. It was a good walk of about 7km, a bit more tiring than yesterday’s walk because of uneven ground through several large paddocks, but we still very satisfying. In a farm we chatted with a lady and met her dog, a Border Collie named ‘Pip’ – same age as the Huddarts Pip but much more shy – the lady had rescued her from a home where she had been mistreated. After picking up the car we drove around the Cotswolds as far as Chipping Camden and back to Bourton-on-water for Pizza. The Cotswolds are very, very pretty with fields of different colours and sizes lined by hedgerows, golden autumn leaves along the roadsides, green hills and dales and many villages where the houses are built from a light coloured stone, the cottage gardens are beautiful and some of the homes have thatched roofing – they look magnificent. I had some success with Telstra this morning and it seems we might be able to get messages again on the bmbertram@bigpond.com  address.

 

Chipping  Camden

Saturday 14^th October.

Up in plenty of time to pack the car before breakfast, leaving at 9.45am. A very smooth 3 hour drive to Brecon Becon in Wales for lunch. Then on to the National Park for another walk. This walk took us through fields again to a high point that had been the site of a Roman Fort and had 360 degree views. Above the small, neat farm fields were large areas of bracken and above this it was very barren and stony. Unfortunately the sky was mostly cloudy, as it has been all week, but we had no rain – the weather has been affected by yet another Cyclone in the Atlantic which brings warm, moisture laden air to Britain and very strong winds are expected tomorrow. On our walk it was interesting to learn that the farmers cut and bail the bracken to be used as animal bedding during the winter.  We are staying in another Youth Hostel in an old building with a lovely country outlook – green fields, black cows next door, autumn trees and a backdrop of barren mountains – how lucky are we!