102 and The Skies are Blue!

We launched on our final walking day around 10AM on a last ten miles according to our itinerary and I know it is going to be longer!

Last night's B&B had the most spacious room so far on the trip. There were enough beds in our room to sleep four.

 

We started out on a cool sun-drenched morning. We had hiked over a mile from the Cotswold Way downhill to get to the B&B and were not looking forward to the hike back up to the trail. Our host advised us that there was a public foot path about 100 yards from his house that joined up to the Cotswold Way and we didn't have to climb back up the hill :-) !

So here we go on a public foot path that is not as well marked as the Cotswold Way. You can see what I mean by the photo above.

Many of the fields are accessed through what they call kissing gates. Below is a photo of one. They come in both wood and metal types.

One big difference between the paths in the U.S. and here in England, in the U.S. you share many of the trails with bikers but here in England many of the trails are restricted from bike use. The entire time we hiked we ran across only two bikers and that was the last day.

We hiked through the area where the battle of Lansdown took place in 1643 during the civil war in England. The photo below shows Cindy climbing a wall near the battlefield. You will see the memorial post designating the battlefield along with a post showing the direction of the trail we were on.

We did cross several golf courses on our hike. Below is a photo of a golf course and what it looks like when they have rain (GREEN)!

We were getting close to going into the big city of Bath, so we'd better spruce up and put on our good shoes!

Oh yes we are back in civilization again. Just think when we get up tomorrow we won't be walking past sheep, horses and cows. With no worries of stepping into or smelling their deposits.

We round the final turn and ahead of us is the Bath Abbey and the Roman baths.

And yes, yes it is the Cotswold Way end/beginning trail marker!

Wait, where is the brass band, the mayor and the welcoming committee? So much for booking with this company again!!!

Oh the heck with it, let's just go to the pub and have a pint or two...

Two more things I would like to add, first the company we booked through, Contours Walking Holidays, did a fantastic job with our accommodations, maps, directions and getting our luggage to our next B&B for us. Second, according to my GPS the miles I recorded were 118 but that includes walking from the trail to our B&B's and back to the trail. Maybe next year the Appalachian Trail. Or maybe not.

 

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