"Walking is man's best medicine." - Hippocrates

My apologies for the link not working for "The Barrows" on the blog before the last one. It seems to be linked up now, so if you want to check out the history on this,  it is quite fascinating. Also if you click on the individual pictures, you will get a larger version.
Today was walking through mostly forest (very quiet but really muddy after the rain we had) and the end of it was through a golf course, so we had to be cautious of airborne golf balls. There was also a very busy roundabout we had to get through dodging the cars!
I must say this is an interesting way to travel. New vistas every day and you never know what your B&B will look like, but if you have a comfy bed, it really doesn't matter. We may get porridge this morning, which, for me, will be a welcome change from eggs, boiled tomatoes and mushrooms!!

 Upper Hill Farm, a beautifully restored 18th Century farmhouse with hand-hewn beams, near Cleeve Hill where we stayed for 2 nights. 

A beautiful view from Crickly Hill. Enlarge the image to see the white dots (sheep).

 Wind blown Crickly Hill. Good thing the wind was blowing the other way and there was a dry wall to keep Andrew from tumbling down the steep hill.

 Very narrow path on the edge of a very steep windy hill.

 This tree had blown across the path and there were lots of branches down from the rain and wind.

 Plant of the day ~ Hart's tongue fern thriving on moist banks trailside.

 And my inclination for correct spelling just cringed when I saw this! (Fayre is a pseudoarchaic spelling though, so I shouldn't get my knickers in a knot!)

 Copper's Hill, where they have cheese rolling competitions - yes, it's a real thing, but the local council does not support this and will take no responsibility for injuries. This pic does not show the steepness of the hill, it was an 80 degree angle and really bumpy. If you saw "The Amazing Race" a few years ago, they actually did this for one of the challenges.

 And here we are in Painswick (map challenge for the grandchildren), staying in a 17th century B&B with very slanted floors. But we had a great sleep!

"Being soaked alone is cold. Being soaked with your best friend is an adventure." - Emily Wing Smith

It's taken 3 days, but I think we have finally settled into the rhythm of what we have come here to accomplish. We enjoy each other's company and support each other in many ways: rubbing the Voltaren into the aching spots and bandaging each other's feet before we don our hikers.
Our day was cold and wet but we managed to hike 10 miles in about 5 hours. It was quite easy after yesterday's epic hike. Not too much interest in stopping to take pictures because of the weather.  It was more level walking today, which I was very grateful for, just one big slippery hill down into a valley then up the other side.
We have spent the last two evenings with fellow Cotswold walkers, who are also staying at the same B&B. Our host has to drive us 10 minutes to a local pub so we can get something to eat for supper, so we all end up dining together and getting to know one another. One couple is from Melbourne, Australia and the other from Ottawa, Ontario. So, that has been a lot of fun.

 A couple of 'animal' pics for the grandchildren. Above a Roman snail - they were very large and plentiful and below, a black slug. I think the rain brought these lovely creatures out in full force.

 Andrew admiring the wild holly that was growing in a woodland area. 

 "Heritage Tree" ~ a 400 year old beech tree.

 Okay.......gotta figure out which arrow to follow. I'd be lost 10 times over if Andrew wasn't here, he seems to have an amazing 6th sense of direction.

 Low cloud cover and rain all day long.

 We thought the little door in the wall might be for bunnies, but there was also a way over for humans. Hmmm, there might be a story here.

 And this just about sums up our day. Time for a nap and warmth.

"Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far." - Thomas Jefferson

Day 2 ~ we are completely worn out. A long 14 mile day, 9.5 hours of walking (actually plodding by the end). We are tucked away in a lovely B&B near Cheltenham and the Voltaren and Advil are going to be my best friends tonight.
The landscape here never fails to disappoint and we had good weather until noon. Then it started to rain, but we put our heads down and kept on. A lot of ups and downs today and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish, but we arrived just in time for the innkeeper to take us to town for a bite.
A few photos to give you a glimpse of our day.

 Shenberrow Inn in a little town called Stanton. The B&B business must be doing okay by the look of that car. We ended up with a room with twin beds - that was kind of a shocker! We haven't slept in separate beds ever!!

 A lovely picture of a thatched roof, also in Stanton, on our way for day 2.

 Lots of sheep and lots of poo to step around. We are now at the point where we just trod right through it!

 Hikers soon become acquainted with this plant that often borders the path. Stinging nettle. When you brush against it, the stinging sensation lasts for 10 or 15 minutes. Seasoned hikers wear gaiters.

 Andrew prepping for the rain we can see in the distance.

 Cows are big. I was glad to get through this field and shut the gate. Especially with a bull in the far corner.

 The Barrows - 5,500 year old burial ground. Read more about this by clicking on the link. There is also an aerial view which gives this a different perspective.

 Taking a peek inside to see if I really want to join Andrew in this crypt. I did, just to get out of the rain, but felt a little claustrophobic and creeped out after about 10 minutes.

 It seems we walked miles around the Cleeve Hill Commons which had a golf course. They had fencing to keep the sheep off the green, but this little guy paid no heed to that.

Please, oh please can the end be near? But it was not to be - another 2 hours before I could rest. I'll admit there was a lot of whinging going on, but Andrew stayed calm, bless him. Unfortunately tomorrow looks like a more seriously rainy day.

Bucolic ~ adj. of or relating to shepherds or country life

Today we started with a full English breakfast which prepared us for our first day of rambling. There is not too much to share when you spend the day walking but there is something to be said for getting out of bed and knowing that what you have to accomplish today is the challenge of reaching the next destination. The trail was definitely not designed to take the most direct route from point a to b, but the ups and downs through woods, sheep pasture, and farmland was ultimately more scenic and well worth the pain I'm feeling this evening.

 Chipping Campden, nervous, excited and seeing the post with 100 miles to Bath was a bit daunting.

 An embedded medallion at the beginning of our trek.

 Shinkicking??? A world championship??

 And those cute black-faced sheep, lots of pictures of them!

 Contemplating how much work it will be to build a stone wall on Klondyke Street.

 Resting on the top of Dover's Hill. Lovely view from here.

Broadway Tower.

See definition in the title.

 Still smiling, about midway!

 Well designated sign posts.

See that building in the distance? The end point for today, we hope!! The hips are starting to feel the strain!

Westward to the Cotswolds

An early rise to catch the train out of Oxford to Chipping Campden, the start of our Cotswold Way walk. The cityscape turned very quickly into rural England with rolling hills, those cute black-faced sheep and stone walls dotting the countryside. We were picked up by our host for the evening, Deenie Gibson, Park Road Bed and Breakfast and she has been very accommodating, even driving us up to Hidcote, Lawrence Johnston's garden. We spent most of the afternoon wandering around this estate smelling the roses and soaking in the beauty of this century-old garden noted for its importance in the evolution of landscape design. Another check off Andrew's bucket list. We then walked "home", about 3 miles (5 km) on very narrow roads without sidewalks. In every direction, it was continual lush green rolling hills. I imagine the pictures might be rather boring from here on in, but we will keep you posted on our progress through the Cotswolds!

 Arriving on the Great Western Railway to Moreton-in-Marsh, just a short drive to Chipping Campden and the beginning of our journey.

 Only 100 miles (165 km) to Bath! Yikes!!

The centre of Chipping Camden, the market square built in 1627. Chipping is from an old English word meaning 'marketplace'.

 The inside of the market square - they haven't levelled the floor in many years.

 Another gateway into a little secret garden. Behind this wall, is a garden to commemorate Ernest Henry Wilson, a famous plant explorer who was born in Chipping Campden in 1876.

A lovely rose garden outside a home - gotta love the well kept English garden.

 Hidcote - absolutely beautiful.

 A cedar of Lebanon - located just inside the entrance - so impressive.

 "Hattie's Pincushion"

 Admiring a tree peony. He is so in his element here.

  He's reflecting on the craftmanship required to thatch a roof.

These sheep are ready for summer - hopefully we'll see some with their coats still on.