Day 6 - Journeys End (Lyneal to Tilstock)

It had to happen - I could not be blessed with fine weather for the whole time and even before I drew the blinds on my bedroom window I knew it was raining. Not drizzle, not a sharp shower (why do we have so many descriptions for rain?) but a "set for the morning" sort of continuous downpour. Perhaps it would stop before we left the house? But no, Gwynfor and I set off for Tilstock Village Hall and it rained continually for the full 30 minutes. We had a ride to the Lyneal trust - another 20 minutes driving and still no respite.

The Lyneal trust is a wonderful project where people with disabilities can enjoy the experience the canal in one of their adapted barges. we have had a long relationship both as a funder but also as a customer, taking several of our groups on day trips for respite from their normal lives. I have seen several developments over the years and was keen to hear about the progress that had been made because of the most recent grant award we had made. Carol was there to greet me with several the other volunteers and the persistent rain gave me the opportunity to linger a little and hear their plans over a cup of coffee. But there was nothing for it, eventually I had to lead my walking buddies for the day out into the rain.

 

It wasn't all bad - we heard a very persistent cuckoo among a number of other lively birds on the mosses, and there was plenty of interesting buildings and boats along the route, but nowhere we could stop and have a dry lunch break until much further than planned.  

 

 

With two Welsh farmers in the group and the very flat terrain, we set quite a pace and arrived in Tilstock too early - none of my welcome party were there to greet me!  So we hid in a bus shelter and waited for the signal to "go!" before emerging to an enthusiastic crowd, a finishing line and warm welcome from the Lord Lieutenant Anna Turner, the charity's Patron. It could not have been a better end to the day, or indeed the trek.

Another 10.7 miles done. What will I do with myself tomorrow!!