We left Burnham on Sea after a lie-in this morning, which was lovely…. both the leaving Burnham on Sea and the lie in. I did think the cycle stands in Burnham on Sea were quite cute, but at the same time did wonder why a whole town of people on mobility scooters who are never going to use bikes, would need quite so many of them. I came to the conclusion they were probably a collaboration between the Burnham on Sea town council, the NHS and the British Heart Foundation to remind the residents to take their statins and get their blood pressure checked regularly.

Once we got out into the countryside it was much prettier.

But then we hit Bridgwater….

I haven’t photographed the usual barbers-nail-bar-take-away-vape-shop combo because we’ve all been there before and it’s just depressing. I also didn’t photograph the statue of Robert Blake in the centre of town, as there were numerous men sat at the bottom of it, all wearing black hoodies, and not completely compos mentis. I didn’t fancy my chances of not being knifed if they took offence to me photographing them incidentally. Although to be fair, given their general state of alertness, most of them may not have noticed I was even there.

I did photograph the feeder school for the men in black hoodies, sat on the church bench in grey hoodies just round the corner. The church is listed and the only beautiful place we saw.

Eventually we got back out into the countryside, and frightened a couple of deer off. Although the public footpath was yet again a somewhat hallucinogenic Strava episode, it was marginally better crossing a maize field fighting over stubble rather than fighting through the tall stalks.

So of course we then had to cross another stubbly maize field……

And another field with no obvious path or maize.

One final obligatory field of mad sheep and a beautiful wooded path and we reached our destination, deep in the Quantocks hills.

Tonight was the first night we were staying with someone, rather than being in a BnB. This was someone we last saw while running the same Greenland marathon in 2024. The incredible, converted barn that he and his wife live in is filled with beautiful objets d’art they have collected or created themselves from all around the world. The environment they have built around them is a testament to the value of exploring this whole magical world, both in and outside our heads. We felt like we’d picked up the conversation from two years ago without a pause and didn’t stop talking and laughing together all evening, principally about the adventures we are all planning and the ridiculous number of jabs you need for them.

Time flies when you’re having fun……

Distance – a relatively short one at 29.47km