Day 5 - North Nibley to Tormarton

It was a very tough day yesterday so getting started today was the hardest yet. After a hearty breakfast and gear packed Rachel was fully charged and ready to go.

As you can see...

 

The start involved a few killer hills with steep climbs up and stoney paths coming down, however this quickly swept into more gentle valleys with timeless pretty cottages and babbling streams.

 Having passed through a field of sheep and then several of cows, along with stunning Spring blossom and new growth, it was definately a day of celebrating fauna and flora. The pinks, blues and yellows were stunning. 

We finally got to the Somerset Monument around lunchtime before heading down to familiar territory past Hawksbury Upton, and the skies created some stunning effects. Quite a different landscape from the days before. A lot of the landscape was flat -  We really couldn't believe we'd got here.

We must also mention some beautiful churches we saw today. Alderney, Little Sodbury and Old Sodbury. Old Sodbury stands on a ridge with views looking west towards the black mountains. By the kissing gate there is a slate tablet with a lovely psalm 111 - v 2 and prayer. Summed up the day for us.

After a quick stop in the Dog Inn at Old Sodbury, myself with a coke and Rachel went hard core with a tonic water, we made the final march to base camp. Funnily enough the quinine in the tonic really helped Rachel in the last few miles.

One other amazing event happened as we were walking through the Doddington Estate, James Dysons place, a helicopter swung low over us coming into land near the house. 

Rachel shouted. " I wonder if he's invited Herbert Hoover"

I visualised Mrs Dyson shouting to the kids

" Oiy Winnie and Winston - Dads home - go and polish your shoes. I'll put the Findus pancakes in the oven!"

We arrived shortly after at the Compass Inn at Tormarton, our final over night before our final leg tomorrow. Our wonderful friend Jenny Moon arrived before dinner to give us a fabulous massage and get us through tomorrow. I can highly recommend her for treatment - please see rachel if you need a treatment- Thank you Jen We can move again,

 Thanks again for all the words of encouragement and suggested tunes. I don't think I'll listen to Dire Straits 'Walk of life' or Dianna Ross ' Ain't no mountain high enough' in the same way again.

Written by Paul and Rachel

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