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.