Day 21: We made it to Bath

Distance: 8.2 miles
Birthday-girl: Judy - Happy Birthday!!!

First things first, follow up on yesterday's comments. Thank you so much, Brian, for sending an email to the pub where I'd left our logistics packet. I don't know why it didn't occur to me to do that. And thanks especially to Paul DeVere for rescuing our papers. Anyone who drives the A37 south of Bristol, please make the short side trip to The Ring O' Bells at Hinton Blewett and thank Paul for us!



After 21 straight days of walking, we have made it to the Apsley House Hotel in Bath! This is a big milestone for us. It's where we turn left, out of the west country, and head north, into the midlands. It's where this whole crazy idea first took root, six years ago, when we walked the Cotswald Way with our kids. It's where we reunited with the box of stuff we sent ourselves from London (maps, extra clothes, ...). It's where we get to take our first rest day. Psychologically, looking at a map it finally feels like we've gotten somewhere. Cornwall and Land's End are now a long ways away. Of course, so is Scotland ...


The day dawned foggy and damp, even foggier and damper than it has the past few mornings. But the footpaths were easy to follow, and the sheep seemed to be happily baaing, and we were feeling great. It's funny how much difference a day makes. For some reason, there seems to be less mud here than farther west, though we did have few sections today where Dawn was able to do her mud dance.


The highlight of the day (other than arriving at our hotel) was when we got lost in the village of Newton St Loe. We somehow got off the path, and ended up in a field with no stile. We scrambled through a lovely deep mud pit, then hopped over a locked gate onto a lane, lost. After staring at the map in confusion for a minute or two, we decided to just follow the lane into the town we could see nearby. Fortunately, by coming into the town from the wrong direction, we saw a sandwich board offering tea, coffee, and cake, and so we ended up here.


We were in a barn that had been converted over to a combination grocery and butcher shop and cafe, part of Newton Farm Foods. They are doing great work promoting their local products, and seemed to be doing a pretty nice business judging from the traffic through the place. We had a nice conversation with the owner and a wonderful Victoria sandwich with our tea. Places like this make the world a better place.

Only a few miles past the quiet village of St Loe we arrived at the A4 roaring into Bath. Crossing an A road is always an adventure for us. The cars are all going the wrong way, moving at a million miles an hour, and heading straight for you. Somehow, we made it. We celebrated our success in getting to Bath by going straight to the laundromat. Then later we had a nice dinner.


Tomorrow is our first rest day! That means no blog. See you all in two days!

Location:A431,Bath,United Kingdom