London Loop Cockfosters to Elstree
6am up and everywhere dark and outside damp. Text Rob to say 'Boot on Front' only to find out later he had no idea what this meant. Can you guess? Give us some ideas in your comments - answer in next blog. Catch the 7.19 Hitchin to Finsbury Park dressed for walking and sardined amongst suits. At Finsbury Park everyone heading to London as I head north with two other people in the carriage. A wonderful cup of tea at Cockfosters where I meet Rob and we set off.
A surprising amount of snow and walking is difficult. As we build up real momentum Rob said 'Len you are off at the pace of a banker chasing his bonus'. He pulled me back to climb a small incline for a surprise view - a great big lake right there in the middle of Hadley Monken common. Lovely. Jack put it there so it is called Jack's lake.
We pull up outside Henry Livingstone's cottage - more like a mansion than a cottage. This is where Livingstone returned after his time in Africa. Rob then told me some story about Richard Burton and discovering Livingstone and the source of the Nile. Surprisingly Rob had not heard that RB married Elizabeth Taylor so it felt good to be able to educate him a little.There before us was Barnet Common where in March 1471 the battle of Barnet was fought. As we peer into the grey mist and gloomy sky we imagine the scene. Edward IV, the deposed King of England, lands in Yorkshire and declares himself King and marches south with 12000 men and funds from Burgundy. Richard Neville the Earl of Warwick who was a supporter of King Henry VI has his 15000 and races to intercept Edward and they meet at Hadley Green on April 13th to do battle. Confusion reigned with the battle fought on Easter Sunday in thick fog.
As the fog cleared and after a four hour battle it was clear Richard Neville's army is heavily defeated...and when he is found he is quickly despatched with. A large number of those 27000 troops died that day. As we leave, we have a strange sense of rideless horses carrying on their fight on behalf of their fallen riders.Edward went on to reign for twelve years until his death in 1483. And now this is a delightful suburb of London with some amazing houses and ladies walking their dogs and chatting across the Green.
I thought we may also expire today. 13.5 miles in snow and mud is hard, and with not a single break and a hilly diversion at the end (ok - Rob got us lost) my back was siezing up and every step became painful. Rob was admirable and looks fit. He didn't offer to carry me back to today's finish line but had he done so I would have accepted. A horrible pub lunch in Elstree where English fayre was provided. With all that effort by Edward from Burgundy I so wish he had also imposed some culinary skills on the locals.
Some yoga stretches and a bath and I am now recovered and ready for more. Next walk in two and a bit weeks and I can't wait.
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