Shropshire 2023 part 4

Thursday, 13th July - Saturday. 15th July

Today I managed a much longer distance than other days.  Initially I headed south, walking around the west side of Church Stretton (through the top of Rectory Wood), but when descending some earthen stairs with wooden fronts, I slipped on either the wet front edge of a step or a wet tree root, crashing onto my forearm just above my elbow, which hit one of the aforementioned wooden items.  That elbow took months to recover.

 

I continued down through Little Stretton, Minton, and Hamperley, as I've done 2 or 3 times in the past, and went up to Prior's Holt.

 

I then continued around south and west up onto the Mynd.

From there it was down the south end of the Mynd.

Then a stop against a farmer's fence to munch on some lunch.  I continued walking while munching on another sandwich, then it was road and track walking northward, below the west side of the Mynd.  Somewhere along this stretch my feet started hurting more and more, as I made my way up through Myndtown and Asterton, then eventually back up onto the Mynd behind Pole Bank Cottage.

Along to Pole Bank where I re-laced my boots and caught a fingertip on one of the metal lace hooks, so it dripped blood for a while after.

Then it was across the Mynd and down Town Beck Batch into Church Stretton.  I got some cider and fish 'n' chips and sat in Rectory Wood park again with my boots off and feet sore.

I finally hobbled back to the bunkhouse.  Also, the walk today resulted in some soreness from my hernia surgery site.  I was told normal duties could resume right after surgery without any risk, and now over 6 months later I get some aches.

Friday I stayed in and read due to both aching feet and a rain forecast.  Saturday I walked over to Church Stretton, via the Bodbury Hill route I had taken on Tuesday, for food supplies, but spent the afternoon reading and napping.

Part 5: Sunday the 16th - Tuesday the 18th