I crossed a very busy road to get to a footpath sign showing the route I was meant to take which looked very overgrown but also like it had been walked. I went up the bank, through brambles and nettles until I got to a stile that was completely overgrown, and I could see beyond was a housing development being built so the path was fenced off. It was a bit annoying to think I'd wasted around 40 minutes and not got very far. At least the sun was shining and I just had to turn around and find another way!
Walking alongside a main road until I could turn off and head to a village and then on to the fields, there was a nice sounding coffee shop on the way but my hosts had warned me it might be closed on a Monday, so I hadn't got my hopes up too much but I'm not going to lie, it was still disappointing to see the closed sign! I ate some dark chocolate and took an apple from a table outside a house across the road that said freshly picked and free, please help yourself.
I walked through a few fields they were peaceful and I enjoyed those moments, I had a little cry as I was moving remembering why I'm on this journey. There were a few ways that weren't clear or well used and I didn't have the brain energy to work out where to go, or to be bothered to walk through mud. It seemed easier, although less pleasant to stick to pavements and roads and I think I wanted an easier day.
My Uncle Martin was very much in my thoughts today, he died a year ago. So welcoming, always happy to help and easy to be around. As soon as you arrived he'd put the kettle on and be making drinks. He was also a huge Wolves football fan and liked to play dominoes. I remembered one time I was driving back up North and Ro was with me, I'm sure he'd been helping me at a fair trade event. We called in to see my nan Betty, who shared a home with my Aunty and Uncle. Martin made us a cup of tea and then explained all the rules and strategy for playing dominoes to me and Ro!
I stopped for lunch and coffee in Kettering and thought about all the good times at Greenbelt festival which is held nearby, with many friends including Ro, dancing outside, camping and enjoying something different for a few days. Later in the evening when I was talking with my hosts for the night Neil and Pauline we got on to festivals and they mentioned they'd been at Glastonbury in 2013 and 2014 both years Ro and I had been there volunteering with CND and trading with my fair trade stall. One of my best festival memories with Ro was at Glastonbury the year we danced side by side to Faithless as the sun was setting, then to Stevie Wonder performing on the pyramid stage, I treasured the moment then and I treasure it now.
After lunch I ended up walking quite a way on a path alongside a dual carriageway, it was loud but I called my sister Hannah and we had a good chat which passed the time well. Part of the way along I was going to join a footpath but it had been properly fenced off, I presumed the landowner didn't want walkers passing through which was a shame because it would have taken me away from the busy traffic. I eventually crossed a couple of fields and think I saw another owl flying low.
I arrived into Desborough just after 4pm receiving a very warm welcome from Neil and Pauline, and as well as festivals we talked about their work, a Ugandan choir and all the mountain walks Neil had led with young people. I received some messages about the weather further up North but thought the snow would not come further South than Yorkshire and I went to sleep!