May the Road Rise Up… and Up… and Up!.
Day 6 – Cotswolds Trail – Birdlip to Painswick – 15km.
One of my favorite blessings is an old Irish one that goes like this:
“May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine gently on your face,
May the rain fall softly on your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of Her hand.”
Beautiful, right?
Well, today, the road definitely rose up to meet me. Again. And again. And then, just when I thought I had conquered the last climb—surprise! Another hill.
I’m starting to think that instead of holding me in the palm of Her hand, God was up there smirking, watching me huff and puff my way up these never-ending inclines.
So, I did the only thing I could do—I stopped fighting it and focused on the nature around me.
And just like that, I caught my second wind, ready to tackle yet another uphill battle (literally).
Speaking of greenery, when I was young, one of my favorite books was How Green Was My Valley.
I later watched the movie (big mistake—the book was better, obviously).
The story takes place in Wales and revolves around a mining community, so you might wonder: What does this have to do with the Cotswolds?
Answer: Absolutely nothing! Except for one thing—the color green.
Coming from Israel and now living in another dry country, I’m always stunned by just how overwhelmingly green the UK is.
Whether it’s the Highlands of Scotland, the Yorkshire Dales, Wales, or the Cotswolds, this lush, rolling landscape is like a giant, living emerald.
It feels vibrant, full of possibility—like the whole land is brimming with stories waiting to be told.
No wonder the Vikings took one look at this fertile paradise and thought, Yep, we’re staying!
And then, finally, I arrived at my stop for the night—Painswick.
This little gem isn’t just a charming village; it’s also the setting for my latest TV pilot!
So naturally, I had to wander around, checking if my descriptions were spot on.
Spoiler alert: I found so many little details I’ll definitely be weaving into my script (if it ever gets optioned, fingers crossed!).
Among the highlights?
A breathtaking 14th-century church, 150 ancient yew trees (nearly 300 years old!), and buildings with names so poetic they practically demand to be written into a novel.
And the best part? My B&B is a 17th-century house, meaning my bathroom is quite literally an old-school “water closet.”
Here’s hoping it’s been updated for modern times—because after a long day of walking, I am diving into that glorious, centuries-old bed!
See you tomorrow for the next adventure!
