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Slow Ways Routes – Sanbig two, Sanstn two

I had booked breakfast at the hotel where I was staying so it was a leisurely start to the day. Yesterday had been a short walk so while not quite a day off it was the next best thing. It was a fine day, I was glad I had escaped yesterday’s rain. I was soon out of the town and along a beautiful path beside the River Ivel.

After crossing over the river I headed off across the meadows.

It was all going so well until I ended up in a section of the path which was heavily overgrown with brambles and nettles. I briefly regretted my clothing choice of T shirt and shorts. I congratulated myself on getting through that and then crossing underneath the East Coast Main Line that I met the next obstacle. A field which hadn’t been grazed for a long time. The grass, thistles and nettles were chest high and very wet. I scanned around for an alternative path but couldn’t find one so just had to battle though. I regretted this time my choice of footwear. My trail runners apart from giving me blisters were not waterproof. After a few metres my feet were soaked. I found a spot to dry my feet and put on the waterproof socks I wish I had started the day with but by that time the damage was done. I continued on damp, scratched from the thistles and brambles and tingling from the nettles.

I ended up on a better path, heading over a footbridge into some woodland. Here was a stark reminder that we need a Reight to Roam here in England. I don’t know the particular reasons why they felt they needed so much security to keep people out of this area but it saddened me especially since the RSPB sanctuary was just ahead which had very sensible access codes. They limited dog walkers to particular paths and marked some areas as off limits but allowed general access otherwise.

I was

The walk up and over the hill through RSPB’s reserve at the Lodge, Sandy. This was a really beautiful part of today’s walk.

After this beauty it was down the hill into the town of Sandy. Apologies to Sandy but I must have missed the best bits because I wasn’t tempted to stop despite the fact I was ready for a lunch stop.

Leaving the town I faced the first of today’s navigational issues. I had to cross the A1 but the route was impassable because of traffic and safety fencing. It took a few minutes for me to find the correct diversion which took me under the road through an industrial estate. It was a nice track through fields back to the Ivel at the village of Blunham.

I got some snacks at the local shop and sat on a convenient bench and had a break. For the second time that day I had to sort my feet out as the plasters wre coming off after my feet had got wet earlier.

Onward I went though from now until the outskirts of St Neots it was all road walking. Going through the village of Tempsford I was supposed to cross back over the A1 but once again the route was wrong. After a bit of a detour I came across some farmers who pointed me in the right direction. Then there were several kilometres of walking beside a fairly busy road which became a bit of a slog. My feet were hurting and there was little around me to take my mind off them. This was one of those days you just wanted to get to the end but it always seemed further to go.

Eventually after crossing a field or two I picked up the riverside path along the River Great Ouse. Thanks to Andy on WhatsApp for fun facts about the Great Ouse! This did cheer me up a bit. After trying to find my way though a new industrial estate I arrived at my campsite.

I was so grateful to get pitched up, and showered. I decided I needed some proper food so walked into the town and found Wetherspoons. I had a drink and something to eat and was grateful to be able to finally rest after what seemed like a long day.

Slow Way – Bigsto one

Today was a day for getting sorted. I desperately needed to get my clothes properly washed and last night I had discovered that there was a coin operated laundrette in Stotfold. Stotfold was technically the end of yesterday’s route and the beginning of today’s, I had camped just before reaching the town. Fortuitously I had only about 12 -13k to walk today so I was not under any time pressure.

I began to walk today with a fresh sense of calmness and peace, confident that all would be well and reminding myself of what I had designated the theme tune of my walk.

Even in this midst of this calmness and peace there were still stray thoughts. I was not 100% confident in Google. I wondered whether the launderette would still exist or if it did would it be open? Thankfully I walked up the main street and there it was, and it would be opening at 9.00. Even better there was an open coffee shop next door. A second breakfast was beckoning so I went in ordered a coffee and croissant and settled down to wait also charging my power bank.

The owner, Ian was really friendly and I kind of got involved in conversations with other customers as they came and went. I discovered what his customers thought about local issues and I almost felt part of local life. In between customers I ended up sharing, not just the reason for my walk but quite personal things about my faith journey. Daryl at the laundrette was great too and I enjoyed chatting with him as I got my washing done. It was a joyful and productive pause on my walk. I was not expecting much from a town like Stotfold but I was more than pleasantly surprised how my expectations were surpassed.

It was time to move on though. I shed a bit of weight by dumping my broken camping chair in a bin as I left. My route took me out of town along well used paths through flat fields. They may have been flat but were never short of interest as I walked. The weather forecast was for rain and I was conscious of clouds gathering and I was sure I could occasionally see rain showers in the distance.

Ian at the coffee shop assured me I would come across a real hill. Sure enough I eventually did start walking up a hill but decided he had rather oversold it’s severity.

As I walked I often wondered what the crops were that I was walking past – Sugar Beet maybe. Other times I realised I had not really realised how industrial farming was these days. I remembered the days when I grew up on the farm until I was eleven. Half a dozen cows milked by hand, potatoes, cauliflowers, anemones and other crops, even in my earliest memories a horse, although we had a tractor too. A very different world.

I mused too about the prevalence of wind turbines on this section. I’ve never had a problem with turbines and wind farms and have never really seen them as a blot on the landscape, even finding a certain elegance in their design

There were lovely splashes of colour too like these sunflowers forming a border round the field.

I had to cross the East Coast Main Line to get to the village of Langford. I had been conscious of the trains for some time and hadn’t realised how busy it was. This crossing was one where I had to use the phone to ring someone for permission to cross. I think the control room was in York! I did get permission to cross after the next train went by and then had to ring them again from the other side to tell them I had crossed safely. I did feel quite safe. I remembered a visit to a signal box with my Grandfather when I was seven. We went to Acklington in Northumberland to see the Flying Scotsman. I remember the signal box, not so much the train as it went past so fast. Once again these were memories of a different time and a different world when Signal Boxes were still a thing.

I was hoping for a cafe in Langford but I couldn’t find one so settled for a drink and snack from the local shop. While I was queuing I got chatting to a lady who turned out to be a teacher at the local primary school. She said if only she had known I was passing through I could have spoken to her Year 6 class. I’m not sure how I could have planned that though. Leaving the village I had to cross back over the railway again. This was a light controlled level crossing. I made sure it was green and crossed quickly but didn’t feel half as safe as last time.

Today’s destination was Biggleswade where I had booked Bed and Breakfast at a hotel. I felt I needed a reset. Just on the outskirts I had to put on my waterproof jacket as it started to rain. This was a novelty. It wasn’t very heavy rain but I was glad when I arrived at the hotel. I was a bit soon to check in so had a drink and something to eat. It was good to to look out of the window at the rain.

It was great to have a proper bed and an en-suite shower and be able to get everything charged up properly. I was a bit worried about my feet though. The blisters did not appear to be healing. I went down the road to the pharmacy and re-stocked with blister plasters. I decided to just wear my flip flops but it was a quite uncomfortable walk. I initially was a bit conflicted spending money on a hotel room but decided I had the money and I needed the extra rest.

Slow Ways Route – Balwal one, Stobal two

It was a nice quiet night and I had a good sleep. I was packed up and ready to set off by 07.30. I felt calmer and confident that I could do this, but there were still problems with blisters and because of my slipping schedule I would have to start re-arranging accommodation which I had booked before I started. I had phone tonight’s campsite yesterday and told them I would be a day late so at least that was sorted.

I had a couple of kilometres to walk back to the village of Walkern where today’s route started. I reckon I will have walked over 400 miles in reality by the time I finish the walk. Out of the village it was into the fields. It was rolling countryside with a well defined track. At least that what I thought. I was feeling good and was happily walking along when I realised I should have cut across the field rather than continuing along the track. This wasn’t the last time I would do this!

Whilst fields which have been harvested have a certain barren attractiveness there is nothing like blocks of colour when you come across crops which have not been harvested or the beautiful hedgerows.

My issues with navigation were not over. I was convinced after looking at my OS App on my phone I was going in the right direction down a really lovely path between trees only to realise I wasn’t

Back on the right path I passed through the little village of Hall Green. I passed a pub and seeing some lads having coffee outside thought that maybe for some weird reason it was open. Not something I was expecting on a Monday morning in the country, Wetherspoons it was not. I did go and have a look only to discover that it was indeed closed and they were just using the benches to have their break.

So on I went heading out through pastures and fields again.

Surprisingly enough I actually met a walker coming in the opposite direction. He had a camera with him and looked as if he knew what he was doing. It turns out he was local so we chatted for a few minutes about the local countryside and the fact that people underrated the walking in the area even though there were loads of walking paths. He also told me about some Red Kites in the woodland ahead though I never saw any that day.

I came to the village of Weston and there was a handy bench so I sat down and had a refreshment stop. I decided I had better do something about my accommodation for the next few nights. I managed to book a hotel room in Biggleswade for tomorrow and changed my booking at the campsite in St Neots the day after. It took a while a some stress but I changed my accommodation in Peterborough too. I decided to split tomorrow’s walk into two so I would be two days behind schedule. I think in my enthusiasm when I planned the walk that I would walk further each day. I think I will definitely need to change the day I finish. I will look at stuff when I am in decent accommodation and plenty of charge on my phone and power bank.

I continued along good tracks and paths over the hills and down into the town of Baldock.

I decided in could do with somewhere nice for lunch. I found a great coffee shop with really nice food and power points so I could charge my phone and powerbank.

After being suitable refreshed with food and power on I went. Under a railway, then over the A1. It seemed like for a while I would never be too far from either the East Coast Main Line or the A1. I was following a shared cycle route at this point through lovely countryside again. Today was really good walking.

Just before Stotfold I headed off route to my campsite at Radwell. The path took me through some lovely woodland.

I did seem to take the long way round to get to campsite when I got near the village. I passed yet another attractive church, I just love them.

Today was not a good navigation day! I got pitched up, it felt a bit weird not actually seeing anyone around. I had pre-paid so I did not need to check in, just find a space and put my tent up. The site was very basic but had all the essentials. As I sat outside my tent my super lightweight camping chair collapsed. It must have been my less than super light weight.

I decided that as the Baldock Services on the A1 were just 15 minutes walk up the road I thought I would get something to eat and see if I could get some charging done. As I negotiated my way round the access roads I was thinking that it felt in some way ‘wrong’ for a walker to be at these services. I looked at all the people coming and going in their cars and felt out of place. But I was on a mission. I got some fast food and then when browsing in the shop spotted a small power bank with an attached charging cable which I thought would be good for keeping in my pocket so I could charge my phone as I walk. I then spent some time in Starbucks charging as much as possible. Then as night fell I walked back to the campsite. It did cross my mind that for a bit more money I could have stayed at the hotel at the Services.

Slow Ways Route – Walkwat one

I woke early, and watched the sun rise illuminating the little valley stretched out before me. In other circumstances the mist hanging in the valley bottom would have been idyllic but there I was anxious about now being a day behind and with a phone which was about to die. I got packed up as soon as I could so my kind neighbours wouldn’t have to wait. One of the other campers came up and chatted about my tent and then offered me his power bank to charge my phone for a few minutes. Every little helps. I got my lift back into Watton. When I got there the church bells were ringing and whilst I could have started walking straight away I decided I would go to church.

There were just a few people there when I arrived who were so welcoming. Obviously when I walk in with a backpack the conversation turns to what I am doing and why. I summon up the courage to ask if I can charge my phone while I am there and it was no problem at all. I would not be the first occasion where I think that not only was I blessed because my need was met because I asked for help but others were blessed too because they were able to help. I met others as they arrived and the feeling of welcome was all the greater. I was able to meet the Rector who I had spoken to on the phone the day before which was good.

The service was lovely and reminded me of those I had grown up with at St Lawrence in Jersey. The last hymn was Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer. As the Rector finished her notices at the end of the service, she made mention of having a pilgrim in their midst and invited me up to tell everyone what I was doing. I did that and then the the Rector decided I needed some breakfast and soon a volunteer was found to feed me before I set off again. It was all quite overwhelming, receiving the kindness of strangers who were strangers only in the sense that I had not met them before. A lovely couple gave me tea and bacon sandwiches and then I started walking again. I had a very precious time with the folk at St Andrew and St Mary’s church. It was a very late start but I booked a pitch oat the campsite where I had been last night online so I knew I was ok for somewhere to sleep. I also had a fully charged phone. I knew I would have to suffer the heat of the day but that was a given, no matter when I started.

I set off through the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. It was hot but there was some occasional breezes. I only had one minor navigational error when I was trusting the downloaded route on my phone rather than the public footpath sign I passed.

It was lovely rolling countryside with mainly tracks through the fields. I came to the village of Benington which the OS Map reckoned had a pub. I began dreaming of a nice cool pint of lemonade, my drink of choice if I hadn’t finished walking for the day. When I got there I discovered the pub had closed down, what a disappointment! I had to make do with some water. I did find a shady bench though. I was getting more concerned about my feet as they were really sore.

On I walked to the village of Walkern which was the end of today’s route. I stopped at the local shop and stocked up on drinks and snacks then walked a bit further down the street to the pub which was open! I chatted to some people at the bar and got directions to the campsite at Church Farm, Ardley. It was a lovely walk over a bridge beside a ford, past an old church and through some woodland. The campsite felt very different from last night. It was almost deserted and the pitch I was allocated was in some woodland, which seemed a long way from the entrance. I got pitched up then decided I needed to go to the pub to get some charging done. Sadly they had stopped serving food again by the time I arrived but it was a great friendly place.

As the day ended I reflected how kind people had been to me in so many different ways and that a large part of my life I had not been open to receiving from others because of my independent nature and the determination not to be a bother to people.

Slow Ways Routes – Herhod two, Wather one

The pitch I had chosen for last night’s camp was just by the river and turned out to be shared with a lot of rabbits as i discovered by their plentiful droppings. It had a great view which I saw when I woke up.

This was my first night’s camping on this journey and it took me a while to get sorted and packed away. It had been a still and humid night so the tent was wet with dew on the outside and condensation on the inside. I gave it a bit of time to dry in the early morning sunshine but I needed to be on my way. In the end it was 08.15 by the time I set off.

1.81km later I was in Hoddesdon which was technically the end of yesterday’s route and the start of today’s. I stopped at a cafe for a coffee before setting off towards Hertford.

Things were going ok as I walked through Hoddesdon though I was a bit later than I had planned. Once I left the town I was out into quintessentially English countryside. It was so beautiful and did my soul the power of good to walk on a day like this. YOU do always have to be aware that you are in the midst of a busy landscape, so there was a diversion because of pipe laying and the path led through a sizeable new housing development construction site.

My route took me through the playing fields of Haileybury College which their website tells me is a leading independent co-educational day and boarding school set in 500 acres of Hertfordshire countryside. It was huge and to my eyes at least posh. Thankfully there weren’t many people around so I found a quiet, shaded bench looking out onto an empty cricket ground to have some water and a snack. Quite suddenly I seemed to be surrounded by teenage girls who were playing hockey; why they had picked my spot to gather I don’t know but almost immediately two staff members and and stood right in front of me. I got the hint after exchanging some awkward comments and was on my way. I suppose I did look a bit like some disreputable scruffy old bloke.

It was getting hotter and it was beginning to get to me but on I went, through some woodland and through a quaint village complete with village green with the locals playing, not bowls but very un-english petanque.

The route took me through more fields and woodland, to Foxwells farm, where there are family activities and a farm shop/café. Then I was soon into the streets of Hertford heading towards my first destination of the day, East Hertford Railway Station. I was beginning to struggle by this point, the heat was really getting to me and my feet were very sore.

I stopped at a handy Tesco Store just up the road and had some lunch. I can’t say I wasn’t tempted though when this bus pulled up which was stopping at Watton at Stone, my next destination of the day.

I resisted the temptation and set off again. I had by this point only completed one third of what I planned for today. I can tell I was finding things difficult because I only took one photo on this part of my route. This is despite the fact it was really beautiful. Hedgerows, fields, some shady woodland thankfully and for a large part of the way you are walking beside a chalk stream. Sadly the heat and discomfort took the edge of this awesome countryside.

As I neared the village of Watton at Stone I began to seriously question whether I could manage to complete my planned itinerary for today. From here I had a further 10km / 6 miles to the next village and then to the campsite I had booked. I reached the village and its beautiful church having made up my mind I could go no further. I chatted to a cyclist doing a sponsored ride outside the church and then I walked into the village and found a pub for a cool drink. As I sat there I considered my options. I telephone the Rector of the church but she was not able to help but suggested I could possibly camp in the Glebe Field beside the church and told me to call the Church Warden. I couldn’t get past an answering machine though and I was beginning to get a bit desperate. What had sounded to easy when I was planning this walk was turning into anything but.

In the end I found I could get an Uber at a reasonable rate to take me to the campsite I had already booked so I did that. I checked in and pitched up. The ground was hard but I got myself sorted. I reckoned I could get an Uber back to Watton in the morning.

I didn’t have the energy to go to the local pub especially since they had stopped serving food by that time. In hindsight this was probably a mistake since to top everything else I realised my power bank was empty and my phone had only 36% power left. I hadn’t been diligent in keeping everything charged. Without my phone I would not be able to navigate apart from not being able to keep in touch. Today was certainly a reality check. All my plans and expectations had come crashing down around me today.

The day however finished on a positive note. My neighbours in the next tent got chatting and have offered me a lift back to Watton as it is not too much of a detour from their route home.

Slow Ways Routes – Enfiwal one, Enfiwalt two, Cheswal two, Chehod one

Waking up to the familiar surroundings of my son’s house in Walthamstow – today felt like a second first day. This was the first solo walk of my journey, the first day I would be camping it was like a fresh start. I left as soon as I could as I was conscious of the distance to walk 29km / 18 miles and the heat. A short walk led me to the official start of today’s walk in Walthamstow.

I just love the colours of the fruit and vegetables, and the vibe of an outdoor market.

I walked through city streets for a while.

Then it was over the brow of the hill and a gentle descent to the Lea Valley and Tottenham Marshes.

If I hadn’t have made the decision to follow Slow Ways all the way I would have just walked beside the Lea Navigation all day to my destination, it would have been easier and quicker but not for this journey. I was to meander through Enfield, Waltham Cross and Cheshunt before the end of the day. This was the first time on this journey that I mused on the difference between Slow Ways and other walking trails… Slow Ways in essence is to walk between places and that means sometimes you don’t follow the easiest or most scenic route through the countryside. Instead I head off past roads and industrial units to Enfield. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, I wanted to experience all that this country and this walk had to offer. It is possible to appreciate concrete and industry together with the wild flowers (aka weeds) which spring up and brighten the way.

The walk into Enfield town centre was through several, I suppose unremarkable neighbourhoods. Is this ever boring? Not for me it isn’t, I love looking around and getting a sense or attempting at least, to get a feel of the communities I am walking through. I passed a mother and her adult son coming out of their house. The son started speaking to me as he wondered what I was doing with a backpack and poles in their street but his mother called him away very quickly. I remember feeling a bit disappointed by this for some reason. I had other thoughts too, and I stopped at a local pharmacy on my route to stock up with blister plasters. I was getting more concerned about my feet. It wasn’t turning out to be the comfortable walk I had been planning.

I climbed over a very tall pedestrian bridge over the A10 along with many young people from the local school and thought about the idea of visiting an Oasis School which never progressed. I arrived at Enfield took a selfie to prove I was there and sat down with a dink and a couple of sausage rolls from Greggs. It was a shady spot as the temperature was rising. I was very aware of how far I still had to walk that day so on I went.. Apart from unremarkable streets there were some views which delighted the eye as the path took me behind houses and along the banks of this river.

I remember just entering a small estate and was so saddened to see some fly tipping, not in tome secluded place out of sight of anybody but just across the street from some houses. What kind of selfish person does that? I was feeling the heat as the day wore on but I did pass a significant milestone. I crossed over the M25! It felt like I had left London now. Visually it wasn’t very exciting as the M25 at that point went into a tunnel so I just walked over a patch of grass.

Waltham Cross was memorable for two things. First was the convenient Lidl where I got some supplies including a ready made salad for later. Second was the joy of walking multiple Slow Ways when you walk down a road to get to the railway station which is the end of that stage only then to retrace your steps as you start the next stage. Being a completist has its downsides in a heatwave.

More street walking to Cheshunt and I will admit my feet were hurting and what energy I had left was draining away. I took a break though I was now conscious that I still had one stage to go and time was getting on. My initial itinerary was proving to be challenging.

The last stage of my journey took me along the banks of the Lee Navigation, the canal beside the river. The heat was abating somewhat but increasingly I was just walking on auto pilot. I did my best to appreciate the beautiful scenery but I was struggling.

I arrived at the campsite I had pre-booked with just a few minutes before their reception and shop closed. It was nearly seven o’clock and I was completely knackered. I saw some cool cans of beer in the shop and before anything else I sat and rested. By the time I finished pitching my tent it was getting dark. It had been a gruelling day.

Slow Ways Routes – Lonpec one, Lonmon two, Monliv one, Livdal one, Dalwal one

My journey across London on the tube and overground was quite painless even if it was the rush hour, not half as bad as I was expecting. I arrived at Peckham Rye Station and was immediately assaulted by the sights, sounds and smells of a lively and vibrant community.

This was the start of my Slow Ways walk but first it was just down the street and around the corner to the Oasis Community Housing project. It’s great that it’s so close to the Slow Ways route, almost as if they were made for each other.

I received video messages of support from Jo and Ben from Oasis and from Dave Smith the CEO which I don’t mind admitting brought a tear to my eye. I wasn’t prepared for the outpouring of support and encouragement which only got even greater when I met the staff and residents at the project. I was after all just doing a sponsored walk. There were balloons, cards and a huge breakfast. The quote of the day was one of the service users who said that it was “Well mad”

I had some filming to do with Andrew from Oasis and a bit of walking up and down to get video and photos. The result is below.

As I walked I reflected how wonderful the start of the walk had been. I felt very much that I was part of the team, not just some random supporter walking for a charity.

The first route was from Peckham to London Bridge. The vibrancy of Rye Lane with its sights, sounds and smells assaulting the senses soon transitioned through a public space to a more calming and more tranquil walking and cycling route along the Surrey Canal Walk, (no canal now), and through Burgess Park.

It changed again to more familiar urban streets. When I crossed the Old Kent Road my mind was transported back to playing Monopoly as a child. Those places belonged to another world and here I was in that world. The nearer I got to London Bridge the more gentrified the streets became and the contrast with Peckham was really strong. It’s not that one is better than the other I just love the variety you see in just a shortish walk. As a reviewer on the Slow Ways web site says “The walk is like an introductory course in urban sociology”.

Once I reached London Bridge the task was to find my walking companions for the next stage. My friend Alison was walking as far as Liverpool Street Station, (another Monopoly place) and Dan from Slow Ways who would walk with me to Dalston. Once I had managed to find them both we set off across London Bridge and onwards into London ‘proper’.

It was such a joy to be walking with others. Alison left us to return home to the North-East and I continued with Dan. Looking back I don’t remember much about central London, apart from huge buildings and construction projects. I was too busy enjoying my conversation with Dan. Apart from anything else he introduced me to the Slow Ways community on Twitter/X.

Dalston was an opportunity to find a bench to rest and have some water. This was the first time I realised that my feet were getting blisters. While I was resting I had one of those wonderful encounters with strangers. A mother and son were sitting next to me and we had a lovely chat. I couldn’t stop too long as I had arranged to meet my son Jonathan who had finished work early and would walk with me for the last part of the day. I had made sure the end of my first day was in Walthamstow so I could stay with them!

The busy London streets gave way to the Walthamstow Wetlands and the River Lee Navigation with its narrow boats and other craft. By mid afternoon I was flagging. The heat was really getting to me and my feet were hurting. But it was great to be sharing part of my walk with family too. We stopped off at a riverside pub for a much need pint, I needed the shade and the electrolytes.The route took us through some of the paths and streets I remembered from previous walks with Jonathan and Caitlin. Eventually we reached the official end of today’s walk at Walthamstow. There was still a little way though, to go though till I was able to rest.

Looking back over the day it was such a wonderful beginning to this adventure. I met so many people and was overwhelmed by their kindness and support. I managed to cross London(ish) in a day, with friends and family. I realised afresh how many communities make up this huge conurbation, how much variety. The only downside were the heat and blisters which took some of the edge off what otherwise has been an awesome day.

Today was the day when the planning and the preparation ended. Today was the day when I woke up both excited and wondering what on earth had I let myself in for. Today was the day I packed my backpack for the final time making last minute decisions to take my small cookset and leave my solar charger behind.

It felt odd – feeling strange as I waited for the bus to take me to the metro to take me to the train to take me to London. This is a long walk but quite unlike the feelings I had as I began my pilgrimage to Santiago. I am not sure how to describe it. I feel more confident of my abilities, after my experience on the Camino with its greater distance and its mountains. I am sure though that this walk will have different challenges.

The whole experience has been different from the start. This is something to be publicised and shouted from the rooftops. This is a walk of press releases and photo opportunities. Even though I am up for all the publicity for the cause, I also look forward to fading into obscurity once again.

The train journey was a very different experience too. I have travelled up and down on the East Coast Main line more times than I can remember but never taken much notice of the countryside until today. Today was the day I could look out of the train window and picture myself walking through those fields and towns and cities. For the first time I will have some understanding of and connection to what lies between Newcastle and London. I am excited by this chance.

Interestingly I spent a few moments this morning planning my next long walk. Iona to Lindisfarne – roll on next year!

London – Gateshead

Having completed the 800 km of the Camino Frances across northern Spain I decided to walk a mere 600km more from London to Gateshead. Glutton for punishment or what? The purpose of this is to support the work of Oasis Community Housing

Background.

I re-discovered the work of Oasis Community Housing earlier this year when my church announced a lent activity Walking a Mile in their Shoes. I hadn’t thought much about what was Aquila Housing Association since I had departed for Cornwall and resigned my position on the committee back in the 80s. I was able to have a visit to some of the local projects and to talk with David Smith and Phil Conn. It was weird to realise I was one of the founders!
I wanted to do something to help beyond that Lent activity though I was happy to do that not least because it helped me with my preparations for walking the Camino. I thought about getting sponsorship for my Camino but there wasn’t a great deal of time and I wanted to concentrate on this being a personal journey. What popped into my head was a walk dedicated to Oasis Community Housing (OCH). I remember the very first activity when we were setting up Aquila Housing Association was a sponsored walk from Rowlands Gill to Swalwell along the Derwent Walk. It’s growth from those humble beginnings perhaps demands a longer walk.

The Purpose

• I love walking
• Raise funds for the charity through sponsorship
• Raise awareness of homelessness
• Raise awareness of the work of Oasis Community Housing.
• Bear witness to the grace of God in blessing this work
• Bear witness to the challenge of how to, ” Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people, Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless.” Isaiah 58 : 6-7

Why London to Gateshead?

I could have picked any long distance route but because OCH have projects in South London and here in the North-East it seemed like that would be a good idea. Peterborough had to be included too because of a project there. It just felt right. My enthusiasm for the Slow Ways initiative was a great way to work out the route. I decided on a long, low level route, following the general direction of the old Great North Road, A1, and East Coast Main line obviously with some deviations. Once I got to the North-East I did a loop through Sunderland and South Shields before arriving in Gateshead. The route can be accessed here