Day Two - Cricklade to Lechlade - Saturday 29 July

Distance: 10.75 miles
Time: 4 hours 22 minutes
Walking partner: Trish Lorenz (still drinking lager despite being in a real ale wonderland and my best efforts to re-educate her palate)
Accommodation: The New Inn Hotel, Lechlade

After the slightly weird experience of having breakfast a deux in the cavernous empty Old Bear pub which had been throbbing with dart-throwing and burger-making till the wee hours the previous night, the walking duo set off. The pace was definitely slower today; permanent indentations in my shoulders and lower back were not conducive to a brisk stride out. Imagine our disappointment when the nice looking pub at Castle Eaton was not yet open for coffee. Saw more walkers going the other way today including a crochety mother and son pair (she seemed annoyed that the trail was not making it easy to cycle her brompton small wheeled bicycle along and clearly wanted someone to blame - either the council, the farmer, or most likely her son).



Most of the walk was a charming and varied as the previous day but there was one horrible bit along the busy A361 for about a mile - the combination of fast cars and lorries, narrow-to-non-existent verges and minimal visibility could have a definite impact on life expectancy.

Trish, who turns out to be rather poetic and spiritual on the sly, suggested we make a diversion to a 12th century church in Inglesham and I have to admit it was gorgeous. Something you'd never notice if you were not on foot enjoying the countryside.

Got to nice, though touristy, Lechlade in time for afternoon tea. Waved goodbye to the wonderful Trish and awaited arrival of my next walking partner, that legendary rough diamond, Bill Batchelor.