Day 12 - S Bristol to Falfield (19.5 miles approx)

Day 12 started early. I'd checked the weather report the night before and I knew rain was coming. I wanted to be packed up before then.

I was getting everything in place when I heard the patter of rain drops on the tent. I went into over drive stuffing things here, there, and everywhere. The rain started to hammer down. I bailed out of the tent, quickly tore up the pegs, removed the one supporting collapsable pole, stuffed the pegs and pole in any place I could find, grabbed all my kit - including loose tent - and made for driest place I could think of... the shower block.

In the shelter of the shower block I could prepare myself much better for the wet weather. I covered everything, and triple checked everything. Now to try on the poncho. It of course fitted but I did get caught by a guy who'd come in to use the loo doing my Clinton Eastwood impression in the full length mirror. I made my excuses and left.

Leaving the premises was the first challenge. The big iron gates were closed and a number keypad next to the gates suggested I needed to input a code to open them. I wandered around the grounds and wondered what it might be "0000?" I thought. Surely not, I went back to the gate, tried four zeroes, pressed enter then told myself off for being dumb. There must have been easily £1,000,000 worth of cars in the premises. They weren't going to protect them with four zeroes!

I eventually found some workmen on site. I explained my predicament and asked if they might know the code. The one guy thought then said "1,2,3,4, ah but then you have to press ENTER". I scolded myself a second time for not trying the obvious.

Finally free I set off for Bristol. Bristol is nice enough. It's very large and the people are friendly enough. A strange thing happened. I was offered a free copy of the Metro. This hadn't happened to me since I left London and it put a smile on my face that I was in a large enough place that the Metro deemed it necessary to peddle their paper.

Another thing that happened was a drunk man (yes drunk by 9:30am) stopped me and said "Are you that guy doing all that walking?" Taken aback I said "to where?". "all over the place" was his reply. I humoured him and told him it was me. I'm pretty sure my blog hasn't reached the heady heights of headline story, especially considering the recent unrest (what's THAT all about?? - rhetorical question). However, Mr Drun Kard seemed very happy to have met 'The Walker'.

I was now soaked through but I didn't let my spirits get dampened. I plodded on mile after mile. Before I knew it I was crossing underneath where the M4 and M5 intersect one another. This felt like a landmark to me. The M4 cuts a fairly straight line across the lower part of England. That section was now done and most of my travelling would be heading North now instead of East North East.

I had to cross the M4 again such is the A38's want and as I did I looked to my left. There in the distance was the Severn Bridge. Another landmark that brought a big smile to my face.

The sky's held onto their rain and I stopped for a break. My feet were throbbing. I found a bus shelter and took the pack off and shoes, and socks to let my poor feet breath. I leaned back and closed my eyes. It felt like ages! I woke with a panic to see a bus full of people staring at me. I felt like a right hobo. I'd only been 'out' for 15 minutes but that was break time over. I got the socks, shoes, and back pack on. Off I went again and finished the day off sitting on a bench in Falfield waiting for my Uncle and Aunty who are being my saviours and putting me up for the night. Awesome.

Tomorrow I will be without back pack as I'll be hopefully staying at the sane place tomorrow night.

I think I am finally starting to feel like I'm getting somewhere. I need to keep hold of this feeling and use it against the 'bad' days.

Day 13 tomorrow and I'm Gloucester bound.