Sodbury

We are moving slowly this AM. The 13 miles yesterday were tough.

Coffee in the room was eye opening and the breakfast at The Dog Inn was at least filling given that we are not wide awake yet. Yesterday, upon our arrival, I asked the bartender if people "woof, woof" when they arrive. "No", she said..."you were the first today". Made me feel real proud to be a turkey in a house of dogs!

So we're having fun and today's walk is short...just nine miles. We shall see if the rain holds off.

This part of the Cotswold Way is a little flatter (rolling hills, not steep mountains), and we started our day walking along rolling hills with some geogous views.

We walked pass the Dodington House...unseen from the path, but we saw the surrounding land and the "moat" that was in front of the main drive. History tells us that it was built in 1795 for a man that made great wealth "on the backs of slaves in the West Indies".

Our day continued to Tormarton, a small village with the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. We visited the interior and the stain glass was spectacular.

We then walked through a series of fields with borders made of new stone. They used the yellowish sandstone that we saw earlier in the walk. Very striking in appearance. Later on we ran into some volunteers who were repairing a stone wall and we were told that it is a very expensive wall to build today given the cost of labor and material.

Our walk went along the scarp edge once again, and perhaps for the last time. We walked around a large deer park that surrounded Dyrham House (the restored home of William lll, built around 1695 or so and maintained by the National Trust). I went up to the gate to take a picture and commented to a couple that were inside that I hoped I could avoid the bars. He said that he would be happy to take a picture for me...and then we realized we has seen each other a few days ago. He and his wife drove the Blue Ridge Parkway not so long ago and we had a discussion about that when we first met. What a coincidence!

As we crossed several fields, some contained sheep and cows, Arlene saw a grouse (or was it a pheasant?). Cameras on cell phones would not do it justice, but I was able to capture a pretty good picture on the better camera with the zoom lens.

We are staying in Pennsylvania (yes we are), at the Cornflake Cottage, and it is a delightful B & B. The hostess made us coffee, provided muffins, and the room has a sitting area downstairs, called The Snug. She will drive us to dinner this evening.

Good dinner of chicken cooked in a pastry shell, veggies, dessert and wine. Hard to beat.

Tomorrow is the last walk. Rain is expected. We've had no rain while here so getting a little in the AM will not dampen our spirits.Read more