Practice No. 1!

Welcome to the first blog post of the River Teme Trek blog. I have now started my sponsored walk along the route of the River Teme, from the source in the Kerry Hills in Powys to the confluence with the Severn at Worcester.

I'm raising money for the St Paul's Church, Knowbury, Restoration Appeal. We are raising £75,000 to repair the roof, redecorate the interior and repair the organ. The church is pictured here.

Preparations for the walk are now complete. On Saturday (2nd June), I did a practice of the first stage, from the source to Leintwardine (see map). I did the practice with my mate Shaun, who is also director of music at Ludlow Parish Church. The plan was to drive to the source, then some friends who live at Leintwardine would take us back to pick up the car.

Saturday was a gorgeous day - just right for walking, if a little hot. We set off at about 9.45 am from a point on the B4355 at OS grid reference SO125828. We continued along the road towards Beguildy, where we stopped for a short break. We continued along the road until we got to Wernygeufron, where we turned onto a public footpath that crossed a field and then took us over a bridge, across the river and into Shropshire. Here we were able to rest for about 20 minutes and have some lunch. Then we rejoined a road, which took us through Llanfair Waterdine and on into Knighton, picking up the Offa's Dyke path for the last part, where we cross the river again and so re-enter Powys.

By now it was 3 pm and Shaun was feeling a little weary, so he decided to get the train back to Ludlow. I pressed on towards Leintwardine along the A4113 for a little while before crossing Stowe Bridge (back into Shropshire!) and getting as far as Bucknell. By now it was 5 pm, and although I felt able to carry on to the destination, I realised that by the time I got to my friends, had a cup of tea, was taken to the car and drove back to Ludlow, it would be rather late - and I still had things to do!

So I phoned my friends who came and picked me up from Bucknell. It was a great day, and an excellent practice. The upper Teme Valley is beautiful - and it is striking how remote some of the houses seem, perched all on their own. The next day my legs were fine, but I had blisters - so I need to get some better walking boots. I was also a tad sunburnt, so more effective sun block will also be important for the real thing. But the omens, I think, are encouraging!