“Technology gets better every day. That’s fine, but most of the time all you need is a stick of gum, a pocket knife and a smile.” Nathan Muir, Spy Game.
22nd Jan
#littleDacombe pinged me on WhatsApp and asked if she could join me on this week’s walk, to which I was delighted to say ‘of course’. When I showed her the route her only comment was ‘that’s a chunky walk’. Up to that point I hadn’t really thought about it, keeping only the goal in sight, which is to walk 21.5 miles in a single stretch without keeling over.
She arrived on Friday evening and told us that if we were done in time she had a dance marathon to attend on Saturday evening in Bath. I guess my face echoed my incredulity as she laughed and skipped out of the room.
The route I had chosen called the Owlpen circle took us over Long Down and up to Uley Bury taking in ‘that hill’. Actually there were three hills to climb, Long Down (which is pretty mild), ‘that hill’, (which we started to refer to as ‘that b*****d hill’), and White Ways hill, (which we had no idea about).
With #dogbeast in tow we set out at 10am, as normal, and carrying lunch, water, some fruit and odds and sods. We spent the first 20 minutes walking to Long Down, which I would normally drive to, so that by the time we attacked the first hill, warmed up and muscles working, we hit the slope with much more ease than the previous week.
I had chosen my head gear with more thought this week, so were not accosted by irate Gloucester Rugby fans and got to the top in really good shape.
The walk along Long Down is really pleasant and affords views over the Severn Oxbow when the weather allows. So with that to inspire us, we set off down the other side and towards ‘TBH’ as we liked to call it.
#dogbeast was in a better mood this week and kept himself to himself, so that walk to the foot of the hill, via Hodgecombe Farm was easy and then to the foot of Uley Bury.
I still had to stop a half a dozen times on the way up, but mentally, I knew I had done it the week before and more helpfully, I started to recognise the milestones. Here is the gate, here is the fallen log, I know I’m 50% of the way up. Here is the path to the left, only 50 meters to go, etc. When we got to the top, instead of crashing onto the bench, questioning why I was doing this, we caught our breath for a minute and then set off to walk the edge of this ancient iron age fort.1
And then the descent into the village of Uley. The sun was out and the village looked very peaceful, onto Owlpen, and a fallen tree made a perfect bench for lunch. We had been out for two hours at this point and had gone just over halfway of the planned route. I paused the tracker on my sports watch and we had sandwiches, a scotch egg and coffee. What a blissful way to spend a Saturday.
The only blot on the whole day was that I forgot to restart the tracker when we set off again. #littleDacombe is much more adept than me on this front and she remembered. So thanks to her we have the time and distance recorded.
We walked around the bottom of the valley that sits between the Stroud and Tetbury roads and our feet ate the miles up. The highlight of the second leg was when #littleDacombe broke out a tangerine and offered me a segment. I hadn’t realised how dry my mouth was. (Note to self: Hydrate more.) I ate it like a sweet, so when it finally burst it was like the Opal Fruits I remembered as a kid. Lovely.
We climbed the third and final hill, which was steep, but mercifully short and emerged in a local attraction called the Sculpture Wood. Turning right, we picked up the small ridge of hills that end in the Stinchcombe hill golf course. We were both feeling it by this time, legs were complaining, tiredness setting in and I started to dream of sitting down with a cup of tea.
And then, almost before we realised, we were turning into the garden and sitting on the bench. I cannot tell you how amazing it was to take those boots off. It was second only to #littleDacombe’s offer to wash my boots, which I think were still carrying half of the Cotswold geology on them and the other half’s offer to wash the dog.
We cleaned ourselves up and my thoughts turned to preparing dinner when #littleDacombe swept into the kitchen, showered, hair and make-up on, looking like a million bucks. “Right, I’m off to Bath.” She announced as she kissed us both sweetly and then disappeared to dance until the small hours.
It was all I could do to make ratatouille and she was off to party. Good day though!
“Youth is the thing, Gaston. Youth. Stay close to the young and a little rubs off. Honoré Lachaille – Gigi
