Street Wednesday 06 May 2015
Start: Taunton
Finish: Street
Miles walked today: 24
Total miles: 208
A day of wind, sunshine and showers. At least the wind was still at my back.
Rigsby and Miss Jones - Lionel and Marlene - serve me a delicious breakfast
and I start by following the Bridgewater and Taunton Canal, then later the River Tone. Herds of bullocks frisk around me in the lush green meadows alongside the river. I act all nonchalant and don't get trampled to death.
Late in the morning I catch a glimpse of Glastonbury Tor (a conical hill topped by the roofless St Michael's Tower).
I had two objectives at Othery - get a beer and follow the lane into the heart of the Somerset Levels. The pub was shut, and the lane closed to all traffic including walkers. Apparently a bridge was down, and as the Levels are criss crossed by drains, there would be no chance of walking around. A choice: go back a bit and divert, or walk to Street youth hostel on a potentially busy road. For the sake of my feet, I chose the shorter route along the road. Not much fun, but I made it.
The youth hostel was quite a walk from the town, of course, but I needed food so made the journey. Exciting fact - having opened in 1931, YHA Street is the oldest YHA hostel still in operation today.
