Until each day’s blog can be presented here’s a slideshow of the pictures taken on the walk. We hope you enjoy these…
If this is too small press F11 and then click here for a bigger display PLEASE NOTE - You may need to hit the play button too to scroll through the photo's automatically.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Monday, 25 May 2009
Walking with ST Swithun:- Day 2 - Monday 18th May 2009
Following a delightful evening with hosts Colin, Gale & Chris and a substantial breakfast we met with Anne Charles who will be with the team until Wednesday evening.
We set off at 9:15am and made our way from Hitchin towards Hemel Hempstead. This was to be a gruelling 19 mile journey from Hitchin through to Hemel Hempstead.
We left Hitchin from the south towards Charlton then headed south then slightly off track towards Offley across some very picturesque rapeseed fields.
We turned south again past Offley Holes Farm and up and over a steep hill and on towards Kings Walden where we became a little confused as almost all signs in this area pointing toward Whitwell!
We were amused to find that two cyclists had passed us on four separate occasions who were finding the area difficult to negotiate too, and not to miss out Jeanette encouraged them to drop a few pounds into the collection.
We negotiated our way past Kings Walden south of Beachwood Green past Lawrence End house and onto Peter’s Green where we stopped whilst Brian nipped in for a swift half and Ros & Jeanette filled their water bottles. The route then took us to the summit above East Hyde offering us a lovely view across the valley and St Pancras to Bedford railway line. We ascended the other-side of the valley and across the fields towards Harpenden. We negotiated our way past Kings Walden south of Beachwood Green past Lawrence End house and onto Peter’s Green where we stopped whilst Brian nipped in for a swift half and Ros & Jeanette filled their water bottles. The route then took us to the summit above East Hyde offering us a lovely view across the valley and St Pancras to Bedford railway line. We ascended the other-side of the valley and across the fields towards Harpenden.
We arrived in Harpenden and felt in need of sustenance, we stopped off at the Old Bell Public
House where we were advised that we’d get to Hemel Hempstead in 45 minutes if we took the Lilly line. Feeling somewhat elated we finished our drinks and set off on this enclosed, picturesque, path way from Harpenden towards Redbourn. However our elation was short lived as it took us the full 45 minutes to get to Redbourn. We eventually arrived at the hotel in Hemel Hempstead some three hours, feet sore and tired, but we still found the strength to smile for the photo outside the hotel.
We set off at 9:15am and made our way from Hitchin towards Hemel Hempstead. This was to be a gruelling 19 mile journey from Hitchin through to Hemel Hempstead.
We left Hitchin from the south towards Charlton then headed south then slightly off track towards Offley across some very picturesque rapeseed fields.
We turned south again past Offley Holes Farm and up and over a steep hill and on towards Kings Walden where we became a little confused as almost all signs in this area pointing toward Whitwell!
We were amused to find that two cyclists had passed us on four separate occasions who were finding the area difficult to negotiate too, and not to miss out Jeanette encouraged them to drop a few pounds into the collection.
We negotiated our way past Kings Walden south of Beachwood Green past Lawrence End house and onto Peter’s Green where we stopped whilst Brian nipped in for a swift half and Ros & Jeanette filled their water bottles. The route then took us to the summit above East Hyde offering us a lovely view across the valley and St Pancras to Bedford railway line. We ascended the other-side of the valley and across the fields towards Harpenden. Beachwood Green past Lawrence End house and onto Peter’s Green where we stopped whilst Brian nipped in for a swift half and Ros & Jeanette filled their water bottles. The route then took us to the summit above East Hyde offering us a lovely view across the valley and St Pancras to Bedford railway line. We ascended the other-side of the valley and across the fields towards Harpenden.We arrived in Harpenden and felt in need of sustenance, we stopped off at the Old Bell Public
House where we were advised that we’d get to Hemel Hempstead in 45 minutes if we took the Lilly line. Feeling somewhat elated we finished our drinks and set off on this enclosed, picturesque, path way from Harpenden towards Redbourn. However our elation was short lived as it took us the full 45 minutes to get to Redbourn. We eventually arrived at the hotel in Hemel Hempstead some three hours, feet sore and tired, but we still found the strength to smile for the photo outside the hotel.
Sandy to Winchester in seven days... Sunday 17th May: Day-one.
The “Walking with St Swithun team” began the first leg of their trek at the at St Swithun’s Church, Sandy morning service with a special blessing for the five pilgrims by Rev Derwyn Willimans and Rev Janet MacKenzie.
The walk organiser Jeanette was well prepared with her Alzheimer’s collection tin strapped to her back-pack. We set out from the church at 8.45am and headed towards Station Road, past the Bell public house and down onto the Biggleswade-Sandy common. Then, across the river Ivel and past the Quarry Lakes. walking their dogs. We soon approached Biggleswade where Jeanette seized her first of many opportunities to publicise the walk and take further sponsorship. Having passed Biggleswade the weather took a turn for the worse and a downpour ensued as the river Ivel split and we followed the path of the river Hiz. Langford Mill looked in magnificent order and it seemed but a short time before the rain petered out and the sun returned.
Soon after Ros envisaged tea and cream cakes for the first time we stopped for our paked lunches at The Boot beer-garden in Langford. Before continuing we made a slight detour to Langford Garden Centre for a comfort break, and Jeanette took the opportunity to push for sponsorship from the locals passing and raised a few more pounds from some very kind people getting in and out of their cars. We continued the walk passed the Langford fishing lakes, along the Hiz and onto Henlow Grange. This is a lovely time of year to walk, the crops are sprouting and young foals and lambs are in abundance. The route took us along the path of the river Hiz, and on passing over the A507 just west of Arlesley Railway Station we veered west from the river and headed across the fields to Ickleford where we left the fields and took to the roads on to Hitchin, where we met our hosts, Colin, Gale & Chris. 
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