Day 11 - Wellingborough to Desborough

After breakfast I put on my boots which Anne had kindly and thoughtfully dried out for me overnight. The sky was blue and I set off on the 14 miles towards Desborough. 

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!

Day 10 - Olney to Wellingborough

The day began with a warming porridge breakfast, afterwards Lavinia and Wren sorted the Airbnb out and made lunch so I could pack and get ready for the day of walking ahead, they were a great support team! What I'm doing is actually made so much easier because of all the kindness and support, practically and in words, I'm recieving along the way. 

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.