Day 12 - Market Harborough to Kibworth Beauchamp

My original plan was to walk from Desborough to Kibworth Beauchamp (pronounced Beecham) but I woke up in the morning as lots of us did to settled snow, and it was still snowing/sleeting! It looked beautiful but the temperature was a lot lower than I've had so far on this walk and I'd only experienced a little bit of rain on the past 2 days towards the end of each day, I'd started taking the good weather for granted!

Neil and Pauline didn't want to send me out into the snow and suggested I stay an extra couple of hours in their house and they would drop me off further along my route. I didn't need persuading it sounded like a great idea and as well as keeping warm and dry, my phone hadn't charged overnight so it gave me time to get the battery nearer to 100% than 10%.

At 11.15am they dropped me at Union Wharf in Market Harborough as I had decided to walk almost all the way along the towpath so I didn't have to navigate. This is as long as I started in the right direction - a mistake I've made in the past! Luckily there was only one way to go and almost immediately a kingfisher flew over the water a sudden flash of bright blue and it was gone. I've never seen one before so that was a great start to the day, along with the coffee in my flask which I made using an appropriately named 'flying start' coffee bag!

I wore a few extra layers as well as my waterproof gloves, the only new kit I bought for this walk, everything else I already had or have borrowed. I enjoyed walking without having to look at the map on my phone which allowed me to take in the sights and sounds of the Grand Union Canal. Pauline volunteers at Foxton Locks which was on my route and recommended a stop at the Bridge 61 Pub. Warm and welcoming with a fire burning and as I walked in someone asked about the big bag and I told them what I was doing. I ordered carrot soup and sat on a table with Alison and Rosie, an artist. She gave me a couple of small cards with prints of her paintings, one of Welsh mountains and the other of a path, which I loved. 

I realised I could give some art in return! Not mine - I'm the person you don't want on your team playing pictionary, but Ro's. For years he had used paint on the computer, when it was basic and as it developed to draw people, animals and random things. With great attention to detail and an incredible creative and artistic ability he could either freestyle or take a photo/image and recreate it on paint. He'd often send me the pictures he was working on or the finished piece, I was always impressed. We held a memorial for him in Bradford in April and I had postcards printed with 3 of these pictures - a New York cityscape, Desmond Tutu and a dog. I have brought some with me and been writing a thank you message for everyone who has welcomed me to stay and it feels good leaving a trail of Ro's art across the country!

I could have sat near the fire chatting to Alison and Rosie for a long time but I needed to continue on my way as further along the path I would meet Damien a friend in Leicester who I'm staying with for a couple of nights. It was lovely to see him approaching, and finish the day walking together. We headed back to the village where his car was parked and drove to his house. I'd ended up walking just over 9.5 miles.

My routine has become that once I arrive where I am staying for the night I'll shower (or occasionally have a bath) get changed into non-walking clothes and then be ready for the evening. Damien took me to his favourite pub and also to a wonderful veggie/vegan Indian restaurant, I had a Thali which filled me and fuelled me for the following day!