5.1 miles – A comforting breeze, grey-flannels skies and caressing, light rain
I slept appallingly. Perhaps it was the hard little flint stones which my camping mat couldn’t keep out, but I think it was also the exhaustion I had been feeling yesterday afternoon. I couldn’t get myself comfortable and eventually woke up feeling dazed and sick. I couldn’t manage any breakfast. A glance at the map told me that walking beyond Winchester would be impossible unless I made a quick recovery.
I set off, got lost (a sign of the state I was in), and after far too long reached Winchester. I still felt dreadful. So began the search for accommodation. The trouble was I needed to sleep right then. The only hotel under £100 was The Westgate, but I was told I wouldn’t be able to get into my room before three. I turned up on the off-chance and – joy of joys – was told I might take my room at one.
So here goes: a sleep up to conquer all exhaustion, and a hoped-for fresh start tomorrow.
Pedants, please note: the capitalisation of the second definite article is the necessary and only difference between the captions of the above two photos.
