Day 16 (Sunday 5 April)

Sibforth Gower to Turkdean (22miles*)

Another fine day - see Broadway Tower in the distance - memories of walking the Cotswold Way, down to Traitors Ford (there have been quite a few fords); the lambs are getting bigger - must be the southern air (or maybe we're in a time warp and have been walking for days); excellent bird spot by Kevin (see below). Fail to notice the footpath as we walk through Long Compton. This may be because have been traumatised by walking through a village which has a shop. Only have to walk a few yards back. Then a long climb up. I stop for a drink of water , take jumper off, read War and Peace; Kevin caries on. Head off to join him; then notice I've left my walking sticks (both of them this time, Gill). Go back to get them (really just want to do a bit more walking). Go through some great parkland but there's not the emptiness that there has been on previous days. Through Aldestrop - first time I've seen a poem in a bus shelter (Edward Thomas). To the pub at Lower Oddington. Kevin has a couple of pints but I'm on the soft stuff. Legs ache and want to make sure I make it. On our way again -see Stow in the Wold in the distance, then through the fields by the River Dikler - easy, pleasant walking. Through the fantastic village of Lower Slaughter - must go back here. And then the orange juice and lemonade starts to wear off and we're going uphill again. As we head up to Cold Aston - see Annie at the top of the hill. Gary's got completely lost and gone looking for us down a different path - however, he does do a brilliant impression of a Sherpa with my bag later on. And at last Jack (Murphy's mate) has bothered to arrive. Reach Turkdean and it all joins up - 200 miles done"!! And thanks Gary and Annie for picking us up

*this distance is likely to be disputed by Kevin's Garmin so I'll have to update it

Bird of the day: bullfinch
Tree of the day: eucalyptus