Cam Long Down

The blue ridge in the distance is Cam Long Down. I was walking nearer to Stroud around the villages of  Whiteshill, Ruscombe and Randwick, following a route in one of my little walking guides by RR Morton. I don't know the area well so I hadn't done the walk with GG who doesn't like too much of a challenge. V was supposed to be with me, but she had toothache, so Steve dropped me off at the starting point, and I walked off alone. Enjoyed the walk, particularly when we got to Ruscombe and Randwick. The sun was hot and I was glad of some shade in the woods. When I got back to the starting point, I figured I'd have enough time to catch the bus, but it didn't turn up. Eventually I started walking, and about ten minutes later, the bus sailed past me! No matter, I'd hit my stride. Walked across Callowell fields (no cows there now) to the college and Stratford Park. A band was playing in the banstand, and the sounds drifted across the fields. By the time I'd bought an ice cream in the cafe and walked over to the bandstand, they'd retired for their break! 

I walked on, and took a very eccentric route home, taking in the  river, the canal, plenty of shade, and finally an alternative route inro the Heavens valley. I'm leading a walk there In a couple of weeks, and I've been asked for a gentle way in. Well, I found a way to the stream (overgrown in places) but then I had to walk back up the dodgy eroded path to my house! 

Walked in, peeled off my t-shirt, and before I could put the kettle on, the phone rang. At first I thought it was a scammer, but it turned out that I'd left my phone on a stone in Randwick woods, and two lads had found it! Fortunately I'd left the landline and Steve's number on a card in the case. We leapt into the car and drove to Randwick park. It took us a while to find it, because we don't know the village very well. The two lads were there, with their skateboards. We gave the finder a fiver because it was all we had in cash, and thanked them profusely. As they say, not many people walk in that area. I have a vague memory of putting the phone down, maybe I was taking a jumper off, but who knows? 

Steve wanted to visit some Open Studios, so we drove over to the Bath road area, age went to the wrong studio first! I was still very hot because I hadn't had a drink for a while, but I was given a can of lemonade. I think I'll buy a small print from there, when I have money on me. We found ' the right studio' of Kirsty, of Broody Designs. She has a portrait of my great-aunt, Kay Petre, who was a racing driver at Brooklsnds in the 1930s (I never knew her). There was another great portrait of two female racing drivers with their helmets and goggles, smoking cigarettes, which I really liked, but the ten female racing driver portraits are only for sale as a set..

Eventually we drove home and I finished off the chores (fortunately I'd done mostbof them before I at off on my walk) and settled down to watch the football. Final score: England 1, Serbia 0. Everyone seems to think England could've done better after the first thirty minutes. I'm not really a fan, but I like a tournament. 

My prize for the day goes to the two guys who restored my phone to me even before I'd realised it was no longer with me. Remember those phone pouches that people used to wear around their necks? I wonder if they make them for smartphones.