I set off at 07:40am and had an easy drive via the M6 and M5 to Tewkesbury and my friend Val’s house. My bike and panniers were in the car and Val kindly let me leave my car near her house. After a cup of tea and a chat I assembled my bike, fitted the panniers and set off. It was overcast with a slight head wind. The forecast was for rain, but it hadn’t arrived yet. I was keeping to minor lanes wherever possible but some stretches had to be on the main roads. Through Treddington I crossed over the M5 then later crossed back again to the outskirts of Cheltenham where I took a wrong turning at a collection of large roundabouts. I managed to find a lane that took my back to the right route.

Wayside stone pillar

At Great Witcombe I came to a long steep and relentless climb. It was the price I had to pay to keep on minor roads. Eventually I reached the summit near Birdlip then turned right to head for Strout. One place I passed through was called The Camp. My first thought was what residents would say when people asked where they lived. For a while I’d been riding in light rain but it now became harder. I stopped to photograph a wayside stone pillar and used the opportunity to put my waterproof on. I then continued down a long descent into Stroud. I was looking for a supermarket to collect some water. After passing through a succession of roundabouts I thought I’d missed the main town but after a while I came to another roundabout and a Sainsbury store where I picked up some water. Approaching Nailsworth I modified my route as my original plan was to camp near Cherington but I had enough time to make a few more miles. The down side was that I needed to stay on the busy A46 for a few more miles. Eventually I turned off left towards Avening. The road was winding and through a valley. After a sharp right and a steady climb I continued to Tetbury and was back on my planned route. There was an interesting old market building in the town centre.

Tetbury Market House in the rain. It is a Grade I listed building built during the prosperous years of the wool trade and completed in 1655

I left to the south then onto a minor road through Shipton Moyne to Malmesbury. It is a very interesting looking town with an abbey church.

Malmesbury Abbey entrance

Malmesbury Abbey

Inside the abbey

I stopped to look inside and being a Sunday there was a service going on. Continuing through the town I stopped by an interesting building by a bridge over the Avon. A small park adjacent would have made a good camp but it was too busy. I briefly watched a man fly fishing by the bridge then continued on my way. Approaching Redbourne I saw a field to my left with high hedges and an open gate. I wheeled my bike in and pitched the tent in a corner of the field.

Malmesbury Market Cross, c. 1490

Malmesbury

The tablet reads:
Memorand that whereas King Athelstan did give unto the Free School within this borough of Malmesbury ten pounds and to the poor people my almshouse at St John's, ten pounds to be paid yearly by the Aldermen and [[Burgess (title)|Burgess]]es of the same borough for ever. That now Michael Wickes Esquire, late of this said borough and now citizen of London hath augmented and added to the aforesaid gift, viz. to the said Free School ten pounds and to the said almshouse, ten pounds only be paid yearly at St. John's aforesaid within this said borough and by his trustees for ever, and hath also given to the minister of this town for the time being 20s. only by the year for life to preach a sermon yearly on the 19th day of July and to his said trustees 20s. by the year beginning on the 25th day of August. Anno Domini 1694.

St John's almshouse