Day 14 : Midsomer Norton to Bath

Sunday 28th January 2007

Distance Walked: 11.4 miles
Start Time: 9:08
End Time: 12:48
Elapsed Time: 3:40
Weather: Overcast but mild again.
Distance walked so far: 282.3 miles

Weekly Audio Update: Dave on The Steve Show - Day 14



A short day’s walking today, over the hills and straight into Bath, the biggest and most impressive urban centre yet encountered on the walk. McCloy’s suggested route involves a meandering detour following the Kennet & Avon Canal as it bends around the east of the city, but I opt for a more direct approach, along the lanes, and reach the centre by lunchtime.

Bath is an elegant city, nestling in a bowl shaped valley that invites adoring glances from all sides. Walking down through the large limestone buildings of the suburbs, the town feels both grand and powerful, reflecting the wealth that was, and clearly still is, present here. There’s a class about both the architecture and the locals that certainly elevates it above the norm. Are the people here beautiful because they’re rich, or are they rich because they’re beautiful? Regardless, this is a place of substance. It is all eminently photographable, which is unfortunate since I drop and break my camera as I enter the town centre and spend the rest of the day failing to fix it.

So, the south-western section of the walk has been completed in two weeks: twelve walking days and 282 miles. There were moments when the possibility of getting this far seemed too remote to contemplate, but now it seems that the initial pains are fading and that continuing is not only an option, it’s the possible only course of action. From here it’s into the Midlands and north all the way to Scotland. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee……..



Song of the day:

Led Zeppelin
“Bron-Y-Aur Stomp”

As we walk down the country lanes /
I’ll be singing a song /
Hear me calling your name.
Hear the wind within the trees /
Telling mother nature ‘bout you and me