Slow Ways Routes – Stnhun one, Hunram one
It was a fine sunny morning as I woke up, but once again there was loads of condensation and therefore a wet tent. I waited as long as I could before etting off to make use of the sunshine. The campsite was on the route so I picked up the trail along through the Riverside Park towards the town centre.
Then through some narrow streets and back to the river bank. This part of the walk in the early morning sunshine was quite idyllic.
My feet weren’t too bad since I hadn’t been walking long but I was still troubled by having to wear waterproof socks because the grass was so wet. Nothing could dampen (pun intended) my joy and enthusiasm walking this section of the route.
I soon crossed over the river and walked through the village of Little Paxton. I then entered a nature reserve where there were good trails and loads of bird watching hides though I didn’t have time to stop beyond a quick drink and snack.
The trails were well marked and I found myself walking on the Ouse Valley Way. The scenery was just so wonderful, the trail had been maintained so I was able to fully appreciate nature all around me.
Of particular note were the many crab apple trees and the wonderful smell of ripe fruit.
I met a walker coming in the opposite direction who had recognised me from the campsite last night. Interestingly he is the only person I met who had already heard about Slow Ways, though he hadn’t consciously walked any routes. My feet were troubling me but I continued on trying to focus on the beauty around me. I happened to glance down at the trail and noticed a hole just as I put my foot down with wasps coming in and out. Sadly I wasn’t quick enough to avoid getting stung. Thankfully it was just one but it was really painful. It did take my mind off my feet for a while though.
I passed the villages of Offord D’arcy and Offord Cluny on the opposite bank then the trail took me through the Buckden Marina. There were lots of very nice boats, nice cars and posh chalets with a generous sprinkle of Private Property signs. I was longing for a place to sit and have some lunch but felt intimidated by the place. On the way out I found a tree stump to sit on so I settled for that and when a bench became free I moved to that and settled down for a break. I had a lovely view over the river.
I was minding my own business when a lady comes out of the nearest chalet, chats and asks me if I would like a cup of tea. Her and her husband had noticed me and felt they should offer some hospitality. Of course I accepted and explained what I was doing. I finished my lunch with a lovely cup of tea and then the husband came out and chatted too. It was so unexpected and I felt a bit ashamed for having pre-judged the residents of this place.
As I was was walking I was also going over possible changes to my itinerary. I was beginning to realise that shorter daily distances were better for me. I booked a room at the city centre Premier Inn in Peterborough on Friday night and thought about maybe getting a bus to take advantage of the booking then maybe getting a bus back on Saturday then walking back to Peterborough. All these things were going through my head but on I walked. I did come up with a plan but more about that later.
I continued along the river and then left it to make my way into the town of Huntingdon. As I was waiting to cross the road at a busy junction a lady came up behind me and engaged me in conversation. We talked about fund raising and how she had done some sponsored walking recently. We walked together towards the town centre and I learnt that she was a Ukrainian who had been in the country for 30 years and heard how she had managed to get her father out of the country when the war started. Her name is Alla and now we are Facebook friends.
I arrived in the centre of Huntingdon which was the end of this Slow Way and had a short break in the square. I needed to give my feet a rest as I still had a way to go to get to my campsite in the village of Kings Ripton. Huntingdon seemed to be making the most of it’s connections to Oliver Cromwell and I felt quite proud to be sitting on this bench in a coronation year!
I set off again and walked uphill through Huntingdon and out into the fields. I was walking along a busy road and thankfully for the first half I could walk on a footpath beside it. I passed the crematorium and from then on as far as the campsite I was backwards and forwards on and off the grass verge to avoid the traffic. The campsite was quite nice and had lovely hot showers and clean toilets and even a socket to charge my phone.
I checked my feet and found they were a lot worse than I thought. I had to make some radical decisions, but more of that in the next exciting instalment.