Cheltenham to Painswick

The forecast for this part of England today was for “disruptive” weather (great description). “Disruptive” weather means steady, heavy, rain, and strong winds, up to 60 mph inland, 70 mph on the coast.

With that forecast in mind, we left Cheltenham this morning on our 14 mile leg to Painswick with our foul weather gear already on, in a steady rain and a steady breeze.

Our hike began on a track that was also a bridle path (there are a lot of these), and after a ways we passed a couple on horses, one of whom smiled at us from her saddle, with the rain pouring down, and said “Aren’t we keen?” Marty and I discussed how this phrase might translate and we figure that it has one of two meanings:

The first possible meaning is that the phrase is intended to show irony.

The other possible meaning is that in Britain, the term “keen” means “dumbasses”.

A little further on, the path passed a golf course. And in 50 degree weather, a steady wind, and a heavy rain, there was a group of golfers out there. No carts, electric or otherwise.   But in deference to the weather, it needs to be said that: there were only three of them, one of them had a small umbrella, one had a small hat. Yes, this means the third had neither a hat nor an umbrella. But I’m guessing he had a pretty good round going.

Even further on, as we went through a county park, there were several folks out taking there dogs for a run. Apparently “disruptive” weather in England doesn’t disrupt golf, horseback riding, or walking your dog. Or American walkers.

The trail today pretty much followed the escarpment, a lot of it through wooded area. We passed Cooper‘s Hill, where the annual cheese roll was held just this past Monday. If you’re wondering, a cheese roll is an event where someone rolls a large round of cheese from the top of a steep hill and dozens of keen individuals chase it. Ambulances are lined up at the bottom of the hill to take away the remains. Apparently there were as many as 18 “casualties” a few years ago.  Think there‘s some warm beer involved in this as well?

So, today‘s walk was pretty much a grind. But we made great time and got to the Falcon Inn in Painswick in early afternoon.  Things got a whole lot better after that. Hot shower, dry clothes, a nap, a walk around Painswick (great little village), Guinness, Warm Beer, steak dinner, and Jameson’s rounded out the day pretty good.

Not many pictures today. Couldn’t really take the camera out until after we got to  Painswick. So I’m throwing in a picture I stole of the cheese rolling. And we just missed it by a couple of days. Maybe next year.

BTW - the picture of Marty is not our B&B. The Falcon Inn is a great old inn. Marty has an interest in old doorways that have lower doors than those today. Likes to have his picture taken standing next to them.