LEJOG 2015
Stourport on Severn Wednesday 13 May 2015
Start: Great Malvern
Finish: Stourport on Severn
Miles walked today: 22
Total miles: 334
Over breakfast Carol and BJ tell me about their lovely B&B, and ask me about my walk. I am taken aback when they refuse to charge me for my night's stay. Despite my repeated offers, they both insist that they don't want payment and want to help my walk. I can't get over how kind and generous they are. They have had a very busy year since taking over the Puddle Lane B&B and are leaving for Madeira on Friday for their first break in over twelve months. We exchange best wishes for our respective trips and I start walking.
The few miles to Worcester seem to take forever. The path I'm following - The Three Choirs Way - is a bit fiddly, but eventually I find myself following the river Severn past the very impressive Worcester Cathedral. (What's the first thing you think of when the word Worcester is mentioned. Sauce! For me anyway. Mmmm.) A couple of gentlemen sitting on a bench in Worcester call out to me and we exchange walking stories.
The Severn Way will take me further north along the river. It should be straightforward, but at one point the path gets narrower and blocked by fallen trees, which I climb over or duck under. Eventually I reach a tiny tributary to the Severn which I cannot cross. Only now do I think to look at my map. The path left the river about a kilometre back. Grrrr. After retracing my steps I walk through an agricultural / industrial hotchpotch of small businesses then return to the river. There are pleasant meadows alongside the brown and sinuous Severn. At one point I remove my pack and lie down on the cool springy turf. I shut my eyes for a moment and consider forty winks. Not today... I keep walking...
A phone call from Suma updated me on her driving progress. Its great to hear from her. She has very generously donated to the Hospice. Thank you so much Bobby, Suma and Alvita! Also a text from Nathan - he's passed his test! Well done Nathan, and Darren too.
I reach Stourport on Severn around five. I sit outside an attractive pub with rooms next to the river. I call the pub, and several B&Bs, all are fully booked. Fortunately the Burlish Park golf club has rooms a couple of miles to the north, and they can accommodate me. I could choose the campsite marked on the map, but it's going to rain tomorrow and I don't fancy striking camp in the wet. I am so soft. I didn't feel too bad walking the extra distance. A long day.
You must take a look at my donation page: Anonyken is buying me a daily beer (a notional pint), with local suggestions. Today's is: Hobsons Old Prickly. I keep searching for these daily brews. Thanks old sausage!
Himley Thursday 14 May 2015
Start: Stourport on Severn
Finish: Himley
Miles walked today: 15
Total miles: 349
A day of rain and wonderful surprises:
The route this morning took me to Bewdley, along the Severn Way to Upper Arley, then along the North Worcestershire Path to Kinver, via Kinver Edge - a ridge with great views. The rain started quite gently, then set in with a vengeance.
At Kinver, I sat in the caves and drank a hot chocolate, while Googling and phoning to find a room. Eventually, I managed to book something at Himley.
Emerging from the National Trust tearoom into the rain, I took the route of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal most of the way to my room at the Himley House Hotel. Ken phoned. He'd been trying earlier but I couldn't answer as I dared not get my phone wet. It turns out he's in Bridgenorth!
He's driven all the way up to Staffordshire to join me for a day or two. I'm gobsmacked. His plan was to walk nonchalantly towards me as I walked north along the Severn Way, and bump into me, but my route wasn't as he anticipated. He joined me at the hotel. It turns out there aren't any twin rooms so we are going to make do with my double. Eric and Ernie all over again :-) It is a huge bed. Honestly...
Brewood Friday 15 May 2015
Start: Himley
Finish: Brewood
Miles walked today: 14
Total miles: 363
Today was lovely. Company! How lucky am I to have such a good friend? Although Ken did construct a mini Berlin Wall down the middle of the bed...
Lots of highlights today, including walking through "Giggetty" - honestly! Now over to my guest diarist, blogger, and dear friend - Kenonymous:
Richard today informed me that he considered me, (Ken), his factotum......& I therefore find myself composing the blog-spot today. We both woke refreshed in our shared bed. Richard was a bit grumpy, probably due to my refusal to read him a bedtime story last night. The hotel, though shabby, provided an excellent breakfast and we were soon checked out, leaving a slightly unsure receptionist wondering whether I truely was the top-bloke best mate that I am, or some casual acquaintance Richard had met online on Grindr some ten minutes after checking in.
I began the day with some trepidation, as my foot was still quite hurty from three hours of pressure on the accelerator pedal yesterday. Rich showed little concern and so we headed off north out of Himley, got into our stride, & soon picked up the Staffs & Worcs canal towpath heading north.
I should really have had Richard on a lead as the excitement of approaching Giggetty (the western suburb of Wombourne) was becoming unbearable. There was something in the name that appealed*. He'll grow up one day.
The lock gates we encountered were fascinating (honest) & the bargeman & lock-keeper we met filled us in on the history & engineering detail.....all good stuff. We left the canal behind only for the tranquility of the path that followed the disused rail line. Wolverhampton was just to the east but you wouldn't have known.
Conversation had been constant as we relayed our latest news & experiences. The usual diversity of topics were covered & the miles flew by. The terrain was gentle & the sun shining. How could this get any better? A pub appeared - that's how :-) ......& so it came to pass that we sat in the company of a fish-finger sandwich with side order of beer.
The in-yer-head song today had been the Animal Magic theme tune, appearing from nowhere like an uninvited guest who then refused to bugger off for the rest of the walk.
The Staffs way was leading us on, past Codsall & over the M54, the noise of vulcanised rubber on tarmac almost deafening in contrast to our days aural intake.
The Shropshire Union canal led us into our final destination of Brewood, a very pleasant village dominated by a tall church spire which had been our focus for the last mile or so. The Lion Hotel was ideal, as was the evening pub.
A very, very, VERY enjoyable day. The blister count was on zero, as was the bite, rash, sting, sore, stumble & fall counts. It hadn't rained either - it wouldnt have dared after yesterday. Perfick.
"Goodnight Eric"........ ......."Sleep tight Little Ern."
Stafford Saturday 16 May 2015
Start: Brewood
Finish: Stafford
Miles walked today: 13
Total miles: 376
An inebriated conversation in the pub:
Ken: The Lion Hotel was a gem. Thouroughly recommended.
Rich: Agreed.
Ken: What are those castings I'm pointing at on each canal bridge (photo below).
Rich: I haven't a clue, but guess at some sort of device to guide ropes?
Ken: Maybe someone out there can give us an answer........Chris or Nigel perhaps?
Rich: I do hope so. It's going to gnaw away at me otherwise. I'm hoping Chris will know what's being grown in the deserted poly tunnels too - also in photos...
Ken: Indeed - the ones encountered after our lunchtime stop. That pub was perfect wasn't it? .......shame the football wasn't on, but Katie was wonderful & good to chat to....
Rich: Football!!! A message from Dotty that Saints were 3 - 0 up with a record hat trick from Mane
K: Indeed.....we were concerned, as Southampton fans, about walking into a midland pub full of locals supporting a midland team that were losing 5-1 at the time......phew what a relief. Luckily our fears were unfounded......have I mentioned Katie yet?
R: A good day for the Hospice :) Katy (did we mention her already) donated - thank you so much - and here in the Vine Hotel in Stafford Pat Bailey also generously contributed. I need to thank at least a couple of other people but I'll save that for tomorrow when you're not plying me with Marston's Pedigree.
K: Glad to hear about Pat.....just the sort of lovely person to meet to keep your spirits up: ....just like Katie from the Red Lion - we can't forget to mention Katie :-) I enjoyed the afternoon too, though less eventful than yesterday......agreed?
R: Yes, agreed. The YouTube video below is what we were chatting about today (already mentioned a week or two back). Every time we open a gate the screeching sound reminds me of the opening chord from Roxy Music's "Would You Believe " - it was nice to sing it together as we walked through that field of bewildered sheep.
K: Indeed! .....all the way into Stafford, where you desperately needed to locate a launderette....remember? You found one that was close to closing, but luckily you sent your pants & socks, by now almost feral, on ahead, where they made it themselves into the washer.....phew!!!
R: Phew indeed!!! Luckily it was a launderette of loose standards, they even let me use their equipment. The Romanian person was most helpful with my smalls. We have to go now, to catch Mane's hat trick, Long's goal of the season from 45 yards, and Pelle's final nail in the Villa coffin. Come on, we're not having another one!
K: OK OK!!!.....it's you who wanted to stay. Now turn this thing off & turn on the goggle box. COME ON OR WE'LL MISS THE START!!!
R: ..........................
Froghall Sunday 17 May 2015
Start: Stafford
Finish: Froghall
Miles walked today: 21
Total miles: 397
Back to talking to myself today...
Ken and I shake hands and sort of hug - it's not really a bloke thing is it - and he marches off to the station. I think he had fun - I know I did :) I head out of Stafford to the north, still not sure of my route and destination. As I walk along the road leaving Stafford, I give my inaugural speech after being elected Prime Minister:
"... and the first parliamentary business will be to honour my election manifesto. A new law will be passed immediately whereby any driver who turns right at a mini roundabout without signalling will have their car impounded and crushed. They will be sent on a two year rehabilitative correction course at Milton Keynes..."
It could work :)
Lots of motorbikes roar past. They look like mean men and women, hells angels all, but they're probably stockbrokers from Esher.
The day comprises of some roads at the start and finish, a long section of the Stone Circles Way through meadows, and a disused railway into Cheadle. I encounter lots of cattle (I'm getting used to bullocks cavorting around me now), some sheep, a heron, and what could have been a buzzard.
Denise, a fellow driving instructor from Kent, has been advising me about cows. Her partner has a farm, and raises beef cattle. It seems that most of the bullocks I've encountered are likely to have been hand reared and are quite tame. They see humans and think "Food!" Denise also advises me to give cows with calves a wide berth. Will do!
Nigel and Rebecca both say that the cast iron posts on the canal bridges are for ropes to rub as horses pull barges through. Saves the brickwork. Ken and I still don't know what the planks at each bridge are for. They're usually housed in brick containers. A big thank you to Derek and Lynn for their support and donation:
"If Anon doesn't tell you, in those parts Slater's Smoked Porter will keep you going, & going, & going......."
Beer of the day: Peaksone's Oblivion - thanks Kenonymous! I also received a message from Steve, Ken's colleague:
"Could you help me to settle a bet with my work mate Ken, who I understand will be joining you this weekend on your walk. He tells me he doesn't regard anything less than 20 miles a day as a proper walk."
You obviously know Ken very well, Steve. If we include visits to the bar, we probably DID walk 20 miles each day ;) Thank you so much for your support and generosity.
Rain is forecast for the next day or two. Edale is my target, the start of the Pennine Way. It's too far for one day, so I'm going to do two relatively easy days. I think. I'm not going to worry about it tonight. It's too comfortable here at Hermiage Farm
