Day 5
I was up at 5.45 and after ablutions and breakfast of porridge (last night's posh dinner was a small portion), I was ready to leave by 7 when Ramu texted to say that he will be here for 9. When I stepped out of the hotel at 0850, I saw two familiar figures climb out of the car. The boys were here too! What fun! We stepped back into the hotel to breakfast and left around 10. After some typical arguments over the correct direction to take, we began walking and very soon, we were climbing. The directions at this point were very sketchy and some more arguments ensued. I was not about to complain as it made for such a welcome relief from walking on my own. Freed from carrying my bag, I just pointed this way and that as we fell into familiar patterns. My sons would alternate talking to Ramu and I and without the insidious distractions of a screen, we covered a lot of ground - from politics to sport to whether it was a discreet spot for a quick pee.
I only wish they had brought some snacks with them as everyone grew quickly hungry and my own small stash was not enough to feed the mobs. At the end of a long sunken path with trees rising on both sides, we stopped to catch our breath on a bench in someone's garden and out came a lady who offered us tea and coffee. We accepted gratefully and resumed walking. There was some vociferous disagreements over whether or not to climb a small peak and I overruled any dissent and soon we were huffing and puffing our way up Cam peak. If we thought we were done with climbing, we were wrong as shortly after lunch at Dursley town, we climbed and climbed to reach yet another a golf course and not long thereafter arrived at Black Horse Inn which was to be my abode for the night. They served Indian food and after a quick shower and change we came came down for a big meal. The boys left by taxi to go back to Selsley where they'd left the car and I nodded off with a big grin on my face. Nothing could compare to today, I was sure.
Selsley to North Nibley
13.5 miles or 21.5kms
Stay at Black Horse Inn
Day 6
Deepavali today. I called family and wished everyone before downing my customary porridge. Being mindful of the fact that I had to cover quite a bit of ground today, I left at 7.17 and soon began climbing. I was treated to some glorious views from above. I walked through fields and more fields, some of them through lovely countryside. At the next village, I stopped to get myself a coffee - my second this year! - and a banana. Later that afternoon, I was being overtaken by a lady who said that she had spotted me earlier. We walked and talked for a little while. There were gurgling streams that ran alongside the path which was really very pretty. Soon I came across two old friends who corrected me and set me on the right path. But not long thereafter there was a very long unmarked stretch and I walked back the way I came to check and took a detour before finally reconciling myself to the first route. I arrived at the Dog Inn with still some miles in the bag. After my second bath of the week to soak my tired limbs, I ordered a delicious roast veg tart with new potatoes and salad, brought it back to my room and ate it watching TV and fell asleep to dreams of Deepavalis past.
Woke up several times in the middle of the night with cramping calves, then realised that it was actually hunger pangs. Had some porridge and promptly fell back asleep.
I had just two days left on this trip! Do I break my promise to myself and start celebrating too soon?
North Nibley to Old Sodbury
15 miles or 24 kms
Stay at Dog Inn
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