Another Wednesday WarwickShire Walkers It’s extraordinary how different two Wednesdays can be. Last week the day started miserably with rain and unmarked paths at Kempston in Bedfordshire, when friends John and Doreen valiantly shared a difficult day that did, in fact, improve at the last when the weather cleared and we crossed into South Northamptonshire. Today I set out from Stratford upon Avon in lovely sunshine to walk beside the river. A good path and light breeze made the walking really enjoyable and as it was a short day of only 9 miles, I was able to amble along and even have a long rest at lunchtime in the shade of a tree. I confess to actually dozing off to sleep, with both dogs flat out beside me. I don’t know how many narrow boats or fishermen passed us by, but they were kind enough not to disturb us. Stratford upon Avon proved to be an excellent town for us, after such a long time of fearing nothing would happen there at all. Some days ago, Rosemary had telephoned Tony to say she had heard about the Granny Trek and was prepared to organise a circular walk. The son of a friend had let them know that Stratford was the only town on the route not to do a mini Granny Trek, so they rallied some walkers and we enjoyed a beautiful walk in Wellcombe Park, our fund being boosted by extremely generous donations. Two extra dogs were in the party – a poodle and a collie – and the canines all behaved impeccably (as did the walkers, of course!!) It’s a well known saying that as one door closes another opens, but in this case it was the other way around. As the Stratford upon Avon door opened, the Hereford door closed, and the lady we had depended on pulled out. We were to have walked on Sunday morning, 3rd July, but could equally manage the Saturday – as that is currently our day off. Will Hereford become a second Stratford? Is there a kind walker reading this who will help the Granny Trek? We really hope you’ll telephone either Tony (01278 685698) or Granny Beryl (07773 446005). I believe I told you in my last journal entry that we were just too tired to move on Sunday evening, so stayed an extra day at the super site of Anita at Mollington. This meant that yesterday morning was quite a rush and we had just managed to park the motorhome and hook up the electric when our walkers arrived. Getting back to the site after the walk, we suddenly had a lot of the day left. Stratford upon Avon had looked a really interesting town, so we decided to spoil ourselves. Usually we force ourselves to parade around with the flag and the collecting box, but instead we dressed in ‘normal’ clothes and did some window shopping, rounded off with a delicious meal out. Mind you, it wasn’t any more delicious than Julia cooks every evening and she’s been a brick to stand at the stove every evening since 28th May (except for the few evenings’ treats reported in the journal). She definitely deserved a night off. The trouble was that I felt so much like an ‘ordinary’ person that I suffered a dreadful attack of home sickness and found it difficult to sleep. It goes without saying that I miss Tony really badly and I pictured the roses, clematis, honeysuckle, delphiniums and lupins in the garden and felt pretty blue. Then this morning I was setting off again without my companions of recent days, but the weather and walking were wonderful, the dogs behaved really well, I have a first class companion and carer in Julia, a comfortable and familiar home on wheels through Chelston Motorhomes – what on earth am I whinging about? Compared with the difficult days experienced by the families needing the Children’s Hospice, my problems are insignificant. I wonder how many days we’ll have been at home before I find myself wishing we were still on the road!!! |