We drove to Olney where I had the best oat flat white in a long time, competition for the Dark Horse in York! Setting off just after 9am in sunshine, Wren and Lavinia walked with me for 3 miles, partly on quite a busy road and I was glad I'd not encountered other similar roads and that I had company. They managed to find a much nicer alternative on their way back to the car and we can add that to the Slow Ways review to make it easier for the next person who walks from Olney to Wellingborough. This is what I appreciate about Slow Ways, as a lot of the routes I'm walking have already been adapted 2 or 3 times each time with improvements.
My friends each carried one of my bags as we walked through a long tunnel of trees before reaching a gate leading to an open field where it felt like the right place to say goodbye. We shared a hug and thought of Ro and I continued the journey with tears in my eyes, love in my heart and hummus sandwiches in my bag!
It was a day of animals and birds. I didn't pass many people but I was given flying displays from Red Kites, a Kestrel, a Heron, a Robin and I'm pretty sure an Owl. I walked across a field where Muntjac Deer were bounding around, and until I just looked up how to spell it I've always thought they were called Monk Jack Deer! I also saw a Rabbit which made me very happy!
I walked through a slightly hilly field with long grass which reminded me of meadows behind the house in Daisy Hill in Bradford where Ro used to sprint late in the evenings. Fitness and strength were always part of his routine and he'd told me not too long before he died he was getting fist bumps from others in the gym when they saw what he was lifting! He swung kettle bells of 20/30kg with ease and I've been remembering the times we travelled together and I had the rucksack I'm carrying on this walk, he'd lift it and make it look so small and light! I know he'd be impressed with my strength carrying the bag all this way! I haven't always been as strong - it makes me laugh remembering the time Ro, Lavinia and I were carrying a sofa in a Bradford alleyway moving it two houses up and I had to ask a random man who happened to be passing to take my side of the sofa for me!
I stopped in a small place called Wollaston where I went into a pub called The Nags Head and thought of my grandpa John who loved Only Fools and Horses. I bought (no surprise!) a coffee and talked to Pete who was drinking a pint. He asked me if I was climbing a mountain and I explained what I was doing and he was very encouraging. As I was getting my bags on to leave he said 'I have faith in you, you can do it, all the way to.......' and I said 'Bradford' as he said 'Wellingborough' which was my destination for the day a few miles down the road. A nice reminder to take it one day at a time!
I approached Wellingborough along the river Nene path walking past many sheep and later stinging nettles! I was making my way to Jen, Stuart and Anne's house for the night and had to walk up some hills to get there, but I like hills and I've missed them! I received some surprise encouragement from a street sign........
........to my destination! I was still a couple of miles away but it feels closer in the grand total of 340!On my arrival around 3.45pm and after 16.5 miles I was welcomed with tea and cake! We spent the evening talking and ate more delicious food. We spoke partly about injustices and scandals that affect so many, including for Ro the Windrush compensation which I'll write more about another day.
I went for a short walk with Jen after dinner and saw the beautiful moon. My legs and feet felt good and it was nice to have a brief night walk although there was a noticeable drop in temperature.