Cam and Dursley to Stroud, 7.6 miles (26/04/23)

Attendees; P Bridges, N Bridges, K Maguire, H Maguire, P Freeman, K Freeman, N Graham, P Cotterill, T Duggard, D Thomas, D Peters, D Lucas, D Chambers and A Sear.

After all travelling at different times to Gloucester, 14 of us boarded the service to Cam & Dursley. On alighting here we bumped into Andy Gregg Bristol driver, but he wasn't walking. It was a cold day for late April but it stayed dry. We stopped at the Cricket/playground in Frocester for lunch, where a couple of the members took advantage of a few trips on the Zip wire.

Leaving Frocester we passed through more fields and lanes before joining the canal at Stonehouse for the final 3 miles into Stroud. On the recce the first section of the canal was closed but today it was open, so I was happy until we reached the mid section of the canal, which was now closed. A diversion was in place and we followed it. This did mean we got to walk on the old Stonehouse and Nailsworth Railway line. After 15mins we stopped as there was a path back onto the canal and after some free advice from a chap on a bike with a can of San Miguel who said, yes you can back on the canal, we took the path. Only to return after 150 metres as access to the Canal was closed. (I mean who rides a bike and has a drink.😆)

Anyway a little further down the path was another path and this time we gained access back on to the canal for the final 1.5 miles . 13 of us popped into Spoons for a few drinks before making our way home.

Thanks for attending.

Paul Bridges.