Radstock,
England,
United Kingdom
Thursday, September 11, 2008
It was really nice to catch up with friends after such a long time away. Had so much to tell them! I stayed with my friends Lynne and Robb Saturday night. They picked me up from Biddestone, which is where I walked to on Saturday. I consider myself very lucky to have such supportive friends. My friend Shell (who set up this website for me) joined me on Sunday, walking from Biddestone. Also her mum Rose and partner Ian came and cheered me on, which was very nice, along with the goodies they brought me, chocolate and whiskey, perfect! On Monday I walked to Combe Hay, which is very near Peasedown St John, where I was born. I say quietly. 40 yrs ago! Padi picked me up from there, bringing Ben along and took us to my dad's home on the Mendips. She covers so many miles for me, and gives so much of her time, I so appreciate it. The walk would have been very hard without her. So now Ben and I are staying with dad for the week and I am walking familiar territory. Tuesday I walked through Radstock, seeing the flat we used to live in above Lloyds Bank, only it is no longer a bank! The woods and old railway line that we used to play in has changed alot, becoming a park and part of a cycle route which I followed to Old Mills, Midsomer Norton. I thought that path would be much nicer than the Limestone Link path, that would have taken me through Paulton where my grandparents used to live. I was wrong! The byways that I walked at the beginning and end of the day were just mud pools! I should be used to that by now! On Wednesday I was going to play safe and walk just roads, which took me past the favourite cottage we lived in, sadly only for 8 months. It had a small orchard of apple, pear, plums and cherry trees, fruit that I would pick before going to school. The mistake I made about that days walk was to walk around Emborough pond! You guessed, more mud, lots! Today I have had the day off, so I spent the morning visiting Wells. Seeing my first flat that I had when I left home 20 yrs ago, the old factory I worked in (which has since been knocked down and replaced with flats), and a little shop, Spencers, that I used to buy my lunchtime sandwiches from. The shop had not changed at all in the last 20 yrs +. The only thing that has changed is new roads and more roundabouts and one way systems! You might be interested to know that we have reached the £1,000 mark raised, thanks to the magazine 'Pick-me-up', wanting to cover the story of this walk. It will be in the November edition of the magazine, so check it out. :)
