Day 1 - Chipping Campden to Winchcombe

So day 1. Met with Julie at 6.15am in Pucklechurch, who then very kindly took us all the way to Chipping Campden. Many thanks to Julie. It was a beautiful cloud free day and could already feel the heat. Chipping Campden is a stunning Cotswold village and was even more quaint and charming in the sunshine. 

We eventually found the start point and took the appropriate picture before beginning the ascent out of the village at 8.00.

Quick snack at 5 miles and lunch at 10 miles whilst passing through exquisite villages of Broadway and Stanton. After passing the stunning manor of Stanway we headed south and passed through a field marked "Beware of the bull". With a little nervousness we sneaked in and spied the big boy amongst some fellow cows about 50ft away. They did not move. A couple of hundred yards on Rachel nipped into an adjacent linked field for a wee stop. It was here I heard yells and whoops of panic as Rachel appeared, chased by a rather angry looking pheasant. Being obviously concerned I burst into hysterics. Any further sounds of pheasants during the remainder of the journey were cues for a gentle reminder it might still be following her.

At 16 miles Rachel's feet and my knees were getting a bit uncomfortable. Although beautiful, the intense heat was not helping and we had to stop more regularly for water. The pace had dropped from about 20 minutes / mile to 24. On the the final mile heading into Winchcombe tree roots were to blame for a significant face plant as I turned to see Rachel face down on the ground yelling a few expletives. Not being a great nurse I eventually found a suitable plaster but with a sore nose, bruised and cut legs, cut hand, and jarred back the final mile to Winchcome was our slowest. Once Rachel was up she was laughing a lot in her usual way. It was with great pleasure to arrive at the White Hart at about 5.15.

Good bath soak and lovely dinner compleated the day. Amazing sunshine, gorgeous countryside , good processing.

Bring on tomorrow!!