Wednesday May 16th The Big Walk Day 11

Feeling much refreshed after a good night’s sleep we set off again for a much shorter walk than the day before.

Mary’s boots were freshly glued, the rain held off and we were all able to enjoy the sights – lots of ducklings, cygnets, cormorants and herons. Our knowledgeable landlady, who lived on a canal boat, had told us we were unlikely to see kingfishers who liked to hide from sight.

We also enjoyed the boat names such as this one.

So after a relatively easy walk we  arrived at our next overnight stay at a Hemel Hempstead pub and enjoyed a delicious South Indian meal. Three more days to go.

Tuesday May 15th The Big Walk Day 10

The most tiring day yet. We think we must have done about 15 miles, and we didn’t reach our destination, Tring station, till after 7pm. But after a taxi ride to a pub and a good dinner our spirits revived.

Here we are setting off from the great pub where we stayed in Leyton Buzzard. Our landlady Claire gave us a donation to the Trust and made us very welcome. Another disaster with Mary’s second pair of boots was averted when a friendly cobbler managed to stick the soles back together. Not to be worn till tomorrow.

A beautiful day again and the countryside was looking lovely with lots of blossom everywhere.We are now quite adept at crossing locks to get to pubs for lunch.

But despite the great weather we all found this a really difficult day and after about 8 hours of walking on quite a hard towpath we were all exhausted. Thanks to the friendly taxi driver who took us to a pub for dinner and then back to our comfortable B and B for a good rest.

Monday May 14th The Big Walk Day 9

We’ve now completed the full stretch from Birmingham to Milton Keynes, well over half the walk.

Here we all are in the middle of a housing estate just near the canal in Milton Keynes ready to set off on the next stretch to Leighton Buzzard.

Another beautiful day.  We saw lots of herons, often standing quietly on the towpath, but still no kingfishers.

We stopped for a lunch-time drink at a canal side pub and were not deterred by this sign. Mindful of advice from the Canals and Rivers Trust we are being very careful not to fall in the water.

Luckily there are lots of excellent pubs en route and here, by the pub at the end of Day 9, is Judith, marking the end of her 65 mile walk. She has to return to teach for the rest of the week, but she’ll be joining us on the last day from Perivale to Little Venice in London.

We are heartened that we have now raised about £11,000, but we still have some way to go to reach our target £15,000.

To donate click here

 

Sunday May 13th The Big Walk Day 8

We had a very good and restful Day 7, visiting Stoke Bruerne in the pouring rain – a very interesting canal museum, a boat trip into the Blisworth tunnel and skittles in a pub. By the afternoon the rain was pelting down – what a relief not to be walking. We said goodbye to Jane who was returning home, and later in the day met Sally and Judith who had arrived by train and walked down the Northampton arm of the canal. And the parcel with Mary’s new boots was retrieved safely.

So rested and well shod we set out on Day 8 to Milton Keynes.

Despite rain being forecast the sun shone and the towpath was looking beautiful.

We had a great pub lunch in the sunshine.

Continuing on our way we passed the amazing Great Ouse Aqueduct with a huge drop down to the river below.

Then we realised we still had a long way to go and many bridges to pass.  It was after 7pm when, footsore and weary, we reached our hotel in Milton Keynes. The sun continues to shine on the Big Walk.

 

Friday 11th May The Big Walk Day 6

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Refreshed we set off from our hotel in Wheedon Bec near Daventry. First stop was a nearby shop where we made some vital purchases.

Then a short walk to join the canal again, and we continued along the towpath towards Stoke Bruherne.

Here we are at the Blisworth Tunnel which is almost 2 miles long and has no towpath so we had to go over it on a very busy road.

Exhausted, we arrived at our hotel only to find that Mary’s replacement boots were awaiting collection at the parcel depot in Northampton. Our lovely landlady offered to drive to collect them tomorrow so hopefully these old boots can be ditched.