Friday, 29 October 2010

Walk 68 - 23.5 miles - Total 980.8 miles - To Go 19.2 miles


Ware, Stanstead Abbotts, Young Wood, Hall Ford, Cold Christmas, Aldeck Spring, Barwick Ford, Rush Green, Baker's End and Wareside.






We agree to meet at the church in Ware at 7.30 this morning. A bit worrying as I go past three churches on the way in to Ware. I carry on until I find the one nearest the centre of town and there is Rob just pulling up. We are so connected now after almost 1000 miles we have a sense of where we need to be. As we set off we start with a theme for the day which was all about reality. Rob is doom and gloom and promising me a 'tough, hard, strenuous, difficult, painful day' as we follow the 21 mile walk of yesterday with a 23 mile walk today. I am happy it is not raining, it is pleasantly mild, I am looking forward to the walk, expecting to enjoy the experience and take every moment as it comes. Actually both of us are content and in our different ways grab a reality that works for us. Rob will be elated cos the walk will no way be as bad as he predicts and I will be happy cos it is another string of moments to enjoy in the conveyor belt of time.

We start by the River Lea as the light is not yet fully on us. It is a lovely walk with many houseboats with smoke coming out of them suggesting a new day beginning on the river and bringing warmth and breakfast. We stop after just a couple of miles for a mug of tea at the Village Pantry Cafe. The day really starts with the second cup of tea and when you get a perfect mug like here we enjoy it all the more. There is a lovely atmosphere in the Cafe and we are really grateful for the generous donations we are given as we leave.






We then head off in to Hertfordshire countryside and will not see a place for a drink or any refreshment for another sixteen miles. It is rolling countryside with generally well marked footpaths and plenty of autumn scenes. I am searching for another story for my book on Gestalt and Rob sets to the task. Lots of conversation about what makes a good 'Sixth Sense' moment and then Rob is in to creative mode. The story he tells is risque involving a birthday, a boss, his wife and family, and his secretary. It took me a while to get it but as I thought about it I found its subtleties sank in and I saw the true extent of Rob's capabilities!

As we cross Hall Ford Rob tries out his walk on water trick and succeeds at the third attempt. Later, at a ford, he is taking photos of some local children sitting by the Ford shout 'take a photo of us' and Rob says he will so they are on their bikes and charging through the Ford.


As we pass through some of the woods we are curious about blue containers with a small tube at the bottom with corn in it. We keep trying to work out what they are. Only when we ask a local do we find out they are partridge and grouse feeders. Never would have worked that out.

We have a fun conversation about 'equally true realities' and a debate whether one reality can be as equally true as another. I think we agreed they can but it is possible there is an equally true reality that we did not agree they can. It was fun anyway.

It stayed dry and pleasant all day and I realise how lucky we are as this evening it is now raining heavily as I write this blog. Less than 20 miles to go. How will we feel at the end of what has been the most amazing journey for both of us.

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