Following a day of rest spent mostly indoors, I was eager to get out again, with two further rest days to follow. Setting off from my front door and staying local wasn’t going to do it for me this time… I wanted to get out and away; deciding upon a drive south down the M5, west along the A39 and to the northern fringe of the much-loved Quantock Hills.
A four-day Easter break had begun. No need to be up early or endure slow-moving traffic in a journey to the mundane. It was forecast to be a bright and beautiful day. I wanted to spend it outside but I didn’t want to have to travel far.
Having moved to Weston-super-Mare only a few weeks earlier, I’d decided that this would be my first proper walk from my new doorstep. Leaving the car alone, I would walk in the direction of Sand Point.
Where did April go?! Here we are in this late-spring, pre-summer period of transition and the temperature seems to fluctuate on a weekly basis. I’m still getting the miles in, of course.
This would be my first Black Mountains walk of the year, having previous done a shorter route in a similar area with my friend Dave, back in December.
Everything was planned for a great sixteen-miles in these brilliant mountains. My bag was packed. Lunch prepared. As I bent down to put my shoes on and, before I could even tie my laces, something ‘went’ in my lower back.
Walks With Olly 