Day 3

May 2nd, 2013

Brooks

Start: Cleeve Hill

Finish: Crickley Hill

Mileage: 14 miles

OK, here’s the thing…walking the Cotswold Way is basically hiking up one enormous hillside to walk along the top of the escarpment where you can see into the valley below where there is often a village and beyond that another enormous hill. So, it may have taken a few ups and downs, but we’ve wised up. When we see a ridge with a line of trees across the top, you can bet that’s just where our path will lead us. The English seem to think the best way to go from one place to another is by a straight line. So instead of using switchbacks that we have come to appreciate at home, they take you straight up and then straight down with little meanderings through beautiful woods to take your mind off the last descent or the upcoming climb!

On one of the high ridges today we had a great conversation with an Englishman only too willing to chat away while his dogs raced here and there chasing rabbits and butterflies. After awhile he took off and continued his biweekly outing. About 10 minutes later we rounded the next bend and there he was talking with a couple. I knew it had to be the couple that we had already been told at the lunch wagon we happily happened on earlier in the day. The owner had told us that not only 20 minutes before, there had been another American couple on the Way. Sure enough, the Englishman eagerly introduced us to them…and yep, can you imagine, they were from California. The other great thing was that they had also been quite lost yesterday and spent hours trying to find the right path. So, we felt much comraderie and a great deal of gratification that we weren’t quite as inadequate in our skills as we had thought. They gotten lost at just the point we did…because turns out the way was changed a couple of years ago and our books were outdated.

Not to be outdone by some lame guidebook or even a map, my awesome husband came through with getting the GPS and data plan both working at the same time on our phone. Much like the Map My Walk program, our new best friend Rick, has hiked the whole Cotswold Way and VERY clearly points out to us when we are on the path and when we are not. With Rick and Roger, I’ve no doubt that we won’t be taking one step not needed to complete the 105 miles!

Now, back to the lunch wagon…which was pulled along the side of a road we had to crossover. The owner obviously was doing a great business from the many truck drivers and workers who stop for a bacon and egg or even a burger. He had been in this very same location for the past 11 years. At that point, we were just happy to find anything and gladly dumped all of our gear, and sat at the one tables out front. It wasn’t long til we struck up a conversation with not only the owner, but others who brilliantly asked us if we were Americans (because of the baseball hats we are wearing proudly saying “USA”). One young guy in particular really shocked us. He had been to the U.S. – to Vegas, and there had lost a bunch of money. I asked him if he had a lot of girlfriends there because American girls love to hear an English accent. He declared vehemently, “No, I’m married and I’m faithful to my wife because I’m a Christian!” He went on to give us maybe more information than we wanted but said he had been in prison for six years and had led a very bad life before. While in prison, he had met God and now he says his life is difficult but he’s trying with God’s help. Africa, England, Asia, it doesn’t matter where we go, people are the same – desperate for answers, longing for help, in need of a Savior. This young man encouraged me so much. Here he didn’t even know us, but had no problem announcing why he lives the way he does today.

So a long, but absolutely gorgeous sunny day, fantastic walk, and, of course, amazing company! =)

We are told over and over that if we had started our walk even a day earlier, it would have been miserable. Winter lasted six weeks longer than usual and it’s been bitterly cold and rainy. We started walking Monday and so far not one drop of rain. Yesterday we took off our wool caps and by the end of the day didn’t even have jackets on. Perfect walking weather, brisk, sunny, and clear. We are so, so blessed.