Lessons from the Cotswolds: Two Old Fogies Dodge Disasters while Walking Through the Cotswolds

A laugh-filled, soul-lifting journey that proves life’s best stories start after 60.

When Lele Beutel and her 81-year-old husband Mike set out to walk the Cotswolds—a famously picturesque stretch of English countryside—they expected peaceful trails and postcard-perfect views. What they didn’t expect were the mishaps, missed turns, and misdirection that would turn their scenic hike into an unpredictable adventure. But with every mishap came something more: a lesson—about trust, humor, aging, prayer, people, and perseverance.

In Lessons from the Cotswolds, each chapter reveals a new insight discovered along the way, blending travel mishaps with heartfelt revelations. From the simple act of asking for directions to the profound experience of slowing down, Lele and her husband learn—again and again—that life after 60 still has plenty of lessons.

Funny, warm, and quietly wise, this is more than a travel memoir—it’s a love story, a spiritual journey, and a celebration of walking forward, no matter your age.

Lele Beutel and her husband, Mike, enjoy traveling to new places and have found that, with each excursion, come opportunities to make a difference in people's lives. They consider themselves to be "secret agents" for God because of how He often leads them into unexpected situations where they're able to minister to others. With a degree in business communications, she spent 25 years as a financial advisor and was able to encourage many people mentally, spiritually, and financially through her faith-based advice. Now retired, she and her husband spend time with their two dogs, Andey and Barney, with grandkids, and as volunteers at their church. They also share experiences with their life group members and the neighbors they meet while walking the dogs. Other books she has written include: "What God Wants You to Know," a 365-day devotional that reveals God's heart as related in passages from Genesis through Revelation, "From a Secret Place," a daily devotional with questions and answers to and from God, "The Reignbreaker," a young adult fantasy, "Flora's Story," about a young German refugee who miraculously survives both the Nazi and Russian regimes of Germany during WWII, and three books of poetry: "Lele's Lovesongs: Words of hope for the ones we love," "Lele's Sighs: Reflections and Recollections," and "Lele's Selah: Prayerful Poems that Inspire Hope."