Christian Aid at 80 The Walk Part 13 - A Restful Night
The guide book had warned that the middle two days walking on the wall were the hardest. (In the relentless heat they were brutal!) It was with that in mind I felt justified in my choice of accommodation. After five nights of modest self catering I had chosen a hotel stay with Bed and Breakfast included and a relatively upmarket restaurant for a deserved evening meal.
On my arrival I checked in, collected my bag which had once again been transported for me and made my way to the single room I had been allocated. I unlocked the door and stepped into a room which was unbelievably warm and as soon as I put my bags down I had to open the window as wide as possible to let in air.
After a brief rest and large coffee I had a warm bath to rest my weary bones then a cooler shower to help me recover. It was when I returned the towels to the en-suite I discovered that the large towel rail/radiator was very hot and the radiator valve was seized up meaning there was no way to turn it off. No wonder the room was so hot! I cannot sleep in a hot room and I knew I had to see if I could have it turned off or be moved to another room. The journey through three corridors and back downstairs seemed to be never ending but the staff were very obliging and after being shown into no less than three alternative rooms I was able to choose the coolest one with the added bonus of a king size bed!
After a couple of trips along the corridors with my luggage I settled in.
I enjoyed my evening meal very much and even treated myself to ice cream for dessert.
I was booked in for B&B so after a restful night I had a modest breakfast and once again packed my bags for the journey.
My walk for the day was only about 10 miles so the only reason to set off early was to beat the heat. I set foot outside the George Hotel and immediately realised that the passport stamping box was back up the hill at the gates of Chester’s Roman Fort. I don’t know why it mattered so much that I needed to return, but it did, so up the hill I went to stamp my passport.
The next stamp was at my destination for that day and I was headed in that direction.