I was getting really quite worried about finding somewhere to camp as the walking day was drawing to a close.

I did, as I always do, eventually find somewhere. Not wanting to tempt fate but I think it’s a fairly good spot. Probably nearer to a housing estate than I’d like but I’m hoping the local youths can’t be bothered to climb the hill I’m near the top of.

But my nervousness got me thinking. As I neared the end of the SWCP walk I’d become quite comfortable when looking for a spot. I suppose there was a slight nervousness at times but generally I’d managed to stay calm. Sometimes I’d even go as far as to say I was a bit blasé!

So why has that ability gone? I now find myself getting quite nervous from about 3pm and it only gets worse. Where has brave Ben gone – because I could really do with him back. Maybe it’s because this walk is not a marked trail, or at least a well established walk like the coast to coast (that may even be marked now), but that doesn’t really make sense because you’re not meant to wild camp on those either. So, I can only assume that braveness wears off and needs to be built up again.

How to sleep

I was pleased to get walking in the morning and felt surprisingly fresh considering I’d not got much sleep.

I’d made the mistake I often make when I don’t feel comfortable with a pitch and had tried to sleep in my walking clothes. The theory is that if I have to abandon camp I’ll be ready to go, but the reality is that it’s very uncomfortable and I struggle to sleep. So, from now on, I will try to change into my night clothes no matter how worried I am.

Last night I eventually, at around 3am, changed into my ‘pyjamas’ and then fell straight to sleep. So I think I’ve proved now that this is the answer. I may even learn from it.

Shortcuts can take longer

The initial route took me on roads and paths through fields. I could see that eventually I’d get to a canal, and that I could also get there by continuing to follow the Severn Way, but this route cut a corner and looked shorter.

And the walking was nice, I was enjoying myself. However, it did require constant reference to the map on my phone, and also some of the paths weren’t passable. So I think cutting the corner cost me time, and maybe even distance. I have to say I was very relived when I finally joined the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and could put the maps away and just enjoy the walk. Next time (I don’t think there will be a next time), I’ll just follow the Severn Way which leads very nicely onto the canal with little thought required.

Quite envious

I once looked up the difference between being envious and being jealous. Now, I may be remembering this wrong, but envious is when you want the same thing someone else has. For example, they might have a good job, and you want a good job as well, so you’re envious that you’ve not got what they have, but you’re happy they have it, you just want it as well. But jealousy is a little more sinister. In my example, being jealous of their job means you don’t want them to have that job. I’m not sure it even means you want it, you just don’t want them to have it.

So I think I’m right it saying that I was envious of the people living on the canal. I think it’s a life that would really suit me. I’d love all the travelling as well. I would definitely be the kind that moved around a lot. Some of the owners were working on the boats as well – some just a little tinkering with rudders or what not, and others doing much bigger jobs like refits. I’d be happy with the tinkering. I think I’d like that life a lot.

Maybe something to talk to Jenny about.

Not bad at all

I thoroughly enjoyed walking down the canal. It was quite a hot day, it’s always hot these days, but not foreign hot so I was able to keep a good pace.

I didn’t eat enough but knew that I only had to walk about 10 miles on the canal and then I’d get to a Tesco. From there I’d be able to push through Gloucester, maybe then Cheltenham, and then find somewhere to camp.

This didn’t all come to fruition but I was happy with the outcome. I actually got lucky.

After Tesco I briefly looked at the map and, maybe because I was hungry and a little tired, saw Gloucester and Cheltenham as one big built up area. I was then quite worried because to get through Cheltenham as well would be another 10 miles. With 20 already on the clock, and sunset in 2 hours I knew I couldn’t do it. I thought I was finally going to get caught out.

However, things look different on a map to reality. Sometimes, based on the map, there will be numerous camping options, and then there are none. Other times it’s the other way around. Today was, fortunately, the later and after Gloucester, I was straight into countryside, a steep hill, a forest, and even a view.

I ended up finding a spot with ease. I’m a lucky chap.

And, as a bonus, Cheltenham is on the other side of the hill so maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll get some breakfast in the morning.