Symonds Yat to Kernes Bridge

We were sad to leave Symonds Yat. Another day or two would have been wonderful. Our French waitress at breakfast was the icing on the cake concerning our view of this delightful little village. It seems that nothing is too much trouble. After she had served us fresh fruit with yoghurt and all the trimmings, and a cooked breakfast she asked if we would like croissants. Even if you can't eat them now, take them for later! Some final photos and we must leave

Graham reckons this photo says it all; Allan out in front, walking with purpose, Ammie and Joan taking photos and Graham taking photos of us taking photos

The scenery continues in all its beauty. This ladder was leaning against a tree and someone needed to climb it to check out the view from a height. Still beautiful..

Another beautiful wood - the bluebells aren't so prominent now but the wood anemones are spectacular, and we are getting good exercise bending low under some of the branches. Another lovely church.

The fields today were filled with sheep and lots of lambs. We enjoyed watching a group of five lambs running around and leaping across each other. They were very sure footed as they ran very close to the river bank. As we drew closer, the mothers began to call and each lamb ran to its mother and began to feed. We noticed that the lambs' knees were black with mud as they knelt down to feed.

Camping along the river seems to be popular. We have walked through several campsites

I think these tents are called yerts and are very common as onsite accomodation. Each one has a heater but there's no shower blocks around. Now we are heading for a walk through several fields but those dark clouds are fast approaching.

We increased our pace across the grass and just made it into the woods when the thunderstorm hit. Our wet weather gear was on and we tried to shelter under the trees but it was pointless. Was it worth remaining in the hope the rain would ease or would we just press on. We gave it five minutes and then pressed on through rain, hail and mud. Very slippery mud!

It was a tortuous, slow and dangerous hour to walk two kilometres. The storm made the pathway a quagmire and every step demanded your full concentration or else you ended up on your backside or knees, which happened several times to some of the walkers. It was a relief to eventually make it to the Inn on the Wye at Kerne Bridge and into a hot shower.