274kms for November 😁😁😁 48 kms more than October. Getting closer to my target of 2020km, but the days are rapidly declining …with only 29 days left this year and 317.9kms to go….and as they frequently remind me…I have to up my game. 😉
#walk1000miles
But I have achieved my original goal of 1600kms/1000 miles. Hoorah 👏👏🚶🏻♀️
Places I’ve walked in November:
Sunrise walk Ramsgate to Broadstairs Lots of Ramsgate beach excursions Ramsgate to Pegwell Bay for sunset Ramsgate to Pegwell Bay / Sandwich Bay Nature Reserve Temple – LondonTemple – LondonShepton Mallet- Somerset Shepton Mallet- SomersetShepton Mallet- Somerset
As for December….my kms will have to be a final push of 317.9kms to reach my target….so, I’m guessing the week between Christmas and Old Year’s Eve when I’m off work, will see lots of sunrise walks and full day marching along the east coast of England 😂😂😂🚶🏻♀️🚶🏻♀️🚶🏻♀️🚶🏻♀️
Since I’d already explored the greater part of Shepton Mallet in the previous 2 days, yesterday I decided to follow the public footpaths – it took me on quite an adventure.
Public Footpaths A bathtub in a field….where else? 😝😝I saw some amazing farm houses And the stunning Kilver Court complex
I eventually ended up on the Fosseway before heading back into town to see the Christmas lights. Some of the windows look so pretty.
Perfect for a cold dark winter night
I sent the pic of the owl to my daughter to show my grandson – apparently he responded with “oooooooo” 🦉😃😃
The High Street
There’s a delightful cafe in the High Street called Madhatter’s – I love the decor. Next time I go past, if the cafe is open I may just treat myself.
Madhatter’s
So, despite having pretty much covered the whole town on the first day, I’m still managing to create some news routes…it’ll be interesting when I finish here on 12th, to look at all my excursions on mapmywalk and see just exactly where I’ve been.
Looking back….Sometimes I think the farmers just make it difficult for their enjoyment 🤪🤪 I did however manage to get over that
Had a good 6.8km walk yesterday afternoon – took a slightly different route and ended up at the viaduct again but still haven’t found the lake that shows up on Google maps. Although I did see a small lake near a business park complex and a duck pond in Collette Park.
From the viaduct I went off in a different direction across a couple of fields and finally back to the main road, through Collette Park and down the High Street, then up onto the hill in time for the sunset and finally followed last nights path in reverse and back to the house.
Always good to be reminded Last night’s path – on my left behind the fence are the manor house grounds Manor House grounds
Did some slip sliding on the muddy paths on the hill, but managed to not fall on either my face or my derrier.
I more or less slid down that path..
The path across the hill takes you beneath what must have been a railway bridge before the 1960s purge of railway lines, its really dark and foreboding, especially in the waning light of night time – I just love it, looks so spooky.
Dark and spooky
Before setting off across the fields I visited the Kilver Court Designer Village. They have some really lovely items, and I’m glad my debit card was at the house 😁😁😁
Kilver Court Designer Village on my way back
In all a really good walk and I’m getting closer to my target for 2020 and making good progress along the virtual Great Ocean Road in Australia. Unfortunately the organisers of the Conqueror virtual challenges haven’t done any virtual postcards yet for this particular route, but I hope to receive them when they are ready.
Great Ocean Road virtual challenge 320.1kms to go by 31.12.2020
The client I’m working with these 2 weeks has alzheimer disease. As a result of the dangers surrounding this the family have had to have the cooker and hob disconnected for her safety. They have prepared meals delivered for her. That means I’m unable to prepare fresh food for myself. So I’ve been limited to buying microwave meals.
I’m not a fan of microwave food and never use one if I can. But needs must so….
I had to get inventive 🤪🤪 and tried this on Saturday night not half bad actually. Enough for 1 person and if I had vegetables with it, it would make a satisfactory meal.
On Sunday night I tried the Mushroom Stroganoff which was actually really good with lots of mushrooms and sauce.
I just know that I’m not going to be feeling very healthy after all this stuff, vegan or not, but hey ho….
In my job I get to travel frequently, usually to different parts of the country, and seldom to the same place – unless I choose to return to the same client, which doesn’t often happen.
I was meant to be working with a regular client in Nether Stowey till 21st December, but as it turns out, I’m not. I am however still in Somerset, in a town called Shepton Mallet which is close to Castle Cary and the cathedral city of Wells.
When I’m given a new assignment I usually (not always) do a bit of research so I know what I’m getting into and if there’s anything of interest. As it turns out Shepton Mallet is mentioned in the Domesday Book as: Sceapton
Besides that, according to wikipedia the River Sheppey runs through the town, as does the route of the Fosse Way, the main Roman road into south-west England. There is evidence of Roman settlement. Its medieval parish church is among many listed buildings. Shepton Mallet Prison was England’s oldest until it closed in March 2013
So much to see and investigate.
After a 5.5 hour train journey I arrived quite late Saturday afternoon in Castle Cary (nearest rail station) and we soon arrived in SM. There are always surprises to be had when you arrive in a new place, and one of the first was an enormous Tesco’s store!! Really? In such a small town?
the 2nd surprise was that its a very hilly area…which considering its location in the Mendip Hills shouldn’t have been a surprise, but there you go.
A very hilly area
The 3rd surprise was how grey it is. Just about every building is built of grey stone, and of course being winter, the weather is also grey…so my spirits were a little dampened. Although to be fair the day was quite sunny with blue skies on Sunday.
Blue skies
I had visions of a medieval town with old Tudor buildings and interesting architecture. 🤪🤪
Very grey
But I’ve given it a good go and during my breaks over the last 2 days I’ve walked here and there and pretty much covered the whole town and then some.
A grey misty day 30.11.20Exploring the lanesSplashes of colour – the cottage at the bottom right dates from 1750
So in a nutshell: Shepton Mallet
1. Domesday Book village 2. The old Roman Road known as the Fosse Way runs through the town 3. The Market Cross dates back to 1500 4. The name Shepton Mallet derives from Saxon times when it was known as Sepetone. 5. The current spelling is recorded at least as far back as 1496, in a letter from Henry VII. 6. The Romans had a trading centre here along the Fosseway 7. In Norman times William Mallet became Lord of the Manor – hence the second part of the name 8. During the Middle Ages the town grew as a wool trading centre 9. The town is home to the country’s oldest working goal (closed 2013). 10. Shepton Mallet is home to Babycham 11. The River Sheppey runs through the town
A section of the Roman FossewayThe Market CrossThe Market CrossMedieval Church Shepton Mallet prison – closed 2013Home of BabychamLest We Forget – I saw these on various houses ❤❤❤❤❤The River Sheppy near the centre of townThe river flowing past the Mill HouseThe river flows through the countryside
I loved these decorative window sills at the library
A real splash of colour near the Market Cross Shepton Mallet has its own ‘twittens’
I’ve pretty much walked along most of the roads in the town centre, so I’m hoping to expand my horizons and set off along the East Mendip Way – depending on how muddy it is.
Not Just a Granny 
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