I have a thing about Amazon, in that they are trying to take over the world, and with Amazon Prime who on earth is so desperate for something that they want it delivered the next day or in some cases the same day?
Well 2 days before the start of the next section of my walk I went into total meltdown, as I realised that I'd left my Guide Book and update sheet on the train on the way home from work. The back up team sprang into action and a new guide book was delivered the following day and an update sheet emailed from macmillanway.org the same night. Amazon and of course macmillanway.org- you are amazing!
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| Saddleback-towered church Claydon |
So everything was back on for day 9, Chipping Warden to just north of Shenington, a total of 12 miles, by my reckoning about 5 hours walking. It was another hot day as I caught the train from Stamford to Banbury then taxi to the Griffin Inn where I'd finished day 8.
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| Claydon Middle Locks |
The walk starts in Northamptonshire, then passes through Oxfordshire and then into Warwicksire before finishing the day back in Oxfordshire. I crossed over the M40 and Oxford Canal at Claydon Locks - disappointingly no narrow boats on this busy stretch of canal. I entered the Cotswolds at Warmington, a lovely Cotswold village and the walk now continues through this beautiful part of the country until I reach Box in Whiltshire.
The landscape has changed, the golden fields of rapeseed have disappeared replaced with more meadow pasture and fields of barley and the hills appear to be getting steeper! I found this walk quite challenging, probably the heat but it certainly took much longer than I'd expected. At one point I thought I must have gone off route, but I kept picking up the Macmillan Waymarker signs and when I finished the walk I looked back through my guide book and can't see that I did.
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| Well it was hot! |
The walk took me 7 hours, much longer than anticipated, I had booked to stay at
Hornton Grounds B&B which is a slight detour off route on the d'Arcy Dalton Way. However as I made my way to the B&B it was a general steady incline, I was already weary with the walk, the hills and the heat, and I probably hadn't drunk enough water! I arrived at the B&B about 7pm red faced, dripping in sweat, and mumbling something incoherent about the walk taking longer than expected. The hosts Clare and Graham must have wondered what on earth was going on. They asked if I wanted a cup of tea, got me sat in the lounge. I tell you that cup of tea was the best I'd ever had and I could feel my self coming round as I went into my second cup! They must have taken pity on me, as after my shower they offered to drive me to the Indian for a meal. Perfect.
Well a good night's sleep is called for and then off again, hopefully a better walking day with some cooler weather!
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