Life is good. We started pounding the road just after 8.30 this morning, and arrived at our overnight stop at the Royal Oak, Bishopstone, just after 1.00 pm. In the meantime, the Ridgeway offered us another wide range of walking experiences. Notable were the views to our left (the north) during the first four miles or so, including a panorama which took in the entire city of Swindon. OK, not a beautiful city, but part of a superb vista, and the feeling that we could see for miles. The Way itself has certainly 'undulated' a good deal today, with the majority of the distance climbing or ascending, sometimes quite steeply. We have walked through a good deal of quite lush woodland, and have mostly been on good paths. However, our journey also included a rather unpleasant road walking section, with narrow raised but uneven side-paths, and lots of fast-moving traffic zooming past. This stretch included crossing the M4 motorway, and in total went on for about 2 miles.
This is the shortest planned day in terms of miles - 8.7 miles of Ridgeway (9.6 miles according to Moves showing the bits between Ridgeway and accommodation at each end). We are both suffering (mostly in manly silence) from sore feet. Whilst our generously padded bodies play their part in this, I think the weight of our rucksacks is significant, so that even though the clever design of the bags means that you don't necessarily feel it in the shoulders, back or hips, the 18,915 steps that we have reportedly pounded down today take their toll on the soles of the feet. Having a rest normally gives comfort for the next half hour or so, and I am sure that we will survive this.
So we arrived at the Royal Oak in time for beer and/or cider, and found that we are occupying their entire accommodation.
Our rooms are much less modern than last nights, but of a good size. The good news is the best drinks making facilities I have come across, with coffee, tea, milk in fridge, caffetiere, good size mugs. In my room (and I think also in Tony's) there is also a wooden table, with hard chairs, and an armchair,
All good then, but the bed offers a particular challenge. It's a fair size, perfectly comfortable (i have just emerged from a couple of hour's nap) and am now composing this at the table, drinking excellent coffee. It's just really low, with a ferocious wooden frame around quite a soft mattress, so it's an absolute bugger to get out of. If i muffle the frame edge with the duvet and roll off it, it's OK, but not very elegant. It's a reminder not to have too much beer tonight as the fewer trips to the loo the better!
Tony and I are shortly to go for a pint, then dinner. so more later. Actually, talking of food, the Inn with the Well packed lunch comprised an excellent ham and tomato sandwich, carton of juice, chocolate bar and two items which i left in my room, a very green looking apple, and a packet of cheddars.
OK back after supper. Tony: Razor Clams, Hake steak with butter beans, Ice-cream. Ralph: Crayfish, Lamb stew, Blackcurrant fool. All pretty good. Chat with the owner in the garden over a beer later, very friendly.
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