Miles walked: 12

Elevation gain: 1,330 ft.

Accomodations: Premier Inn, Petersfield

Nancy and I started the day with a quick trip to the village shop for lunch makings. After a night’s rest, we were able to appreciate the charm of this little village more than when we tiredly arrived yesterday! We are having to arrange are own lunches on this trip; on every other trip we have booked, the inns and B & Bs have provided lunches as part of our trip, but not this one so we have to plan ahead. And yet, on this leg of the trip, there were several spots right on the trail where we could have got something to eat. But as Nancy says, “Next time!” How’s that for positive thinking?

Except for a couple of spots, I enjoyed today’s terrain more than yesterday’s. The path was varied from tree-lined tunnels to open  expanses with our first glimpse of the sea.

The weather has been gorgeous—perfect hiking weather. Everyone keeps telling us it is not usually like this in April. The rest of England has been getting rain but the Southeast remains sunny and warm! I hope it stays that way.

There has been a hiccup with David and he will have to decide in the morning if he wants to walk tomorrow. Along about mid-morning, he mentioned that his “good” knee—the one that never gives him trouble—was starting to hurt. Well, that didn’t get any better, and by the twelve mile mark, he readily agreed to us stopping for the day. We were to be picked up by taxi two miles further on, after a steep climb, but we were at a county park so Nancy called the taxi and we called it a day. Personally, I was relieved to not have to do those last two miles!

The best laugh of the day came when we were being picked up by the taxi. As we were all getting in, we told David to sit in the front since he was hurting. He climbed in—and then finally realized there was a steering wheel in front of him. 

• To Moreton-in-Marsh, April 29
• To Chipping Camden, April 28
• To Stanton, April 27
• To Winchcombe, April 26
• To Guiting Power, April 25
• To Bourton-on-the-Water, April 24
• To Stow-on-the-Wold, April 23
• A Rest Day and a Train Trip to Remember, April 21-22
• To Eastbourne, April 20
• To Alfriston, April 19
• To Kingston/Lewes, April 18
• To Poynings, April 17
• To Bramber/Upper Beeding, April 16
• Rest Day in Amberley
• To Amberley, April 14
• To Cocking, April 13
• To Buriton, April 12
• To Meonstoke, April 11
• Winchester, April 10
• Winchester, April 9
• To Winchester, April 7-8