We’re now well and truly into summer. But it certainly doesn’t feel that way. Throughout the country garden parties and barbeques have been put on hold pending better weather. For the walker, the cooler temperatures are a welcome relief from what can be uncomfortably hot conditions.But the accompanying rain is less than welcome.
Despite the adverse weather, the path is now completely dry from start to finish. And some of the diversions have now finished. With one or two diversions it seems that locals, frustrated with the time taken to effect the repairs, have taken matters into their own hands. We see diversion signs and barriers cast to one side. And the local councils have an annoying habit of not removing the signs after the work has been completed. A case in point is the diversion at Lechlade where the tunnel under Halfpenny Bridge has been closed. For a while, agile locals scrambling over the padlocked gate; then the gate was opened but the diversion signs remained; and now the official notices have been removed whilst the diversion signs lie on the grass. A full list of diversions is set out below.
We’ve had an extraordinarily busy May and June. But we are quieter than previous years in July and August. Speaking with hoteliers, last minute bookings are down on last year presumably due to the weather. And at this point we should mention a warning to those planning on booking bag transfers at the last minute. We will only accept these if it fits with our schedule i.e. if we will be in the area anyway. And the quieter we are, the more chance there is that it won’t fit with our schedule. Which is why it’s so much better to book ahead as we always accept these. | 
