Belton in Rutland to Maidwell (23 miles)
Start off in fog - quite a few things need to be lined up in the distance to make sure I walk in the right direction- they're not there! Bit of skirting round fields to find the gate in places. Also make use of trusty compass. Fortunately it's not a pea souper and it's the morning not the evening. Oh and it's very muddy as well.
Manage to get to Hallaton but it's been slow going and I can't find a shop and food is needed. As walk up out of Hallaton the flog clears and I meet Mark who is walking the Jurassic Way. Walk with him for a few miles. Mark's a great walking companion, gave me a roll and tomato, a cup of coffee and he likes cricket. (I'm reading "Fatty Batter" in the evening - very funny). The subject of cricket came up because I was wearing white (well, they were white) inner wicket keeping gloves, as I seem to have lost one of my gloves last Monday. Some people might praise my forethought for wearing such gloves in foggy conditions.
Walking on by myself through pleasing rolling (but seriously muddy) countryside. Down to Great Oxenden. I've done 17 miles. Miss the turn down to a disused railway track. Could catch the bus to Maidwell and then bus back out tomorrow. Just deciding to do this as I'm opening a gate when meet friendly owner of the large house I've just walked by. He tells me how to get down to the track and says to walk back along his path to save going back through the mud. Find the railway track.- now known as the Brampton Valley Way. 4 pm - 6 miles to go but it's easy walking. However, my knees are beginning to feel it. Go through a couple of tunnels - about 500 yards long. Really enjoyed it , although should really have used a torch - pretty wet and uneven in places. Find the place where I'm staying just as it's getting dark. (I must have walked hundreds of miles south as it's not as light as the previous day). Fantastic place - really welcoming. And very apologetic about a little event that took place. Went out to fetch the car from just around the corner where we had left it. Back into house, walked up stairs, into bedroom, look down - there's dog dirt everywhere on a light carpet, up the stairs, down in the hall- must have stepped in at as I came in. Think they had 4 dogs. Not my finest moment!
Bird of the day: jackdaw (well it was foggy to start with)
Tree of the day: horse chestnut
Manage to get to Hallaton but it's been slow going and I can't find a shop and food is needed. As walk up out of Hallaton the flog clears and I meet Mark who is walking the Jurassic Way. Walk with him for a few miles. Mark's a great walking companion, gave me a roll and tomato, a cup of coffee and he likes cricket. (I'm reading "Fatty Batter" in the evening - very funny). The subject of cricket came up because I was wearing white (well, they were white) inner wicket keeping gloves, as I seem to have lost one of my gloves last Monday. Some people might praise my forethought for wearing such gloves in foggy conditions.
Walking on by myself through pleasing rolling (but seriously muddy) countryside. Down to Great Oxenden. I've done 17 miles. Miss the turn down to a disused railway track. Could catch the bus to Maidwell and then bus back out tomorrow. Just deciding to do this as I'm opening a gate when meet friendly owner of the large house I've just walked by. He tells me how to get down to the track and says to walk back along his path to save going back through the mud. Find the railway track.- now known as the Brampton Valley Way. 4 pm - 6 miles to go but it's easy walking. However, my knees are beginning to feel it. Go through a couple of tunnels - about 500 yards long. Really enjoyed it , although should really have used a torch - pretty wet and uneven in places. Find the place where I'm staying just as it's getting dark. (I must have walked hundreds of miles south as it's not as light as the previous day). Fantastic place - really welcoming. And very apologetic about a little event that took place. Went out to fetch the car from just around the corner where we had left it. Back into house, walked up stairs, into bedroom, look down - there's dog dirt everywhere on a light carpet, up the stairs, down in the hall- must have stepped in at as I came in. Think they had 4 dogs. Not my finest moment!
Bird of the day: jackdaw (well it was foggy to start with)
Tree of the day: horse chestnut
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