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.