Quite a few developments to report - though finding the time to actually put it all on the blog is proving a challenge! Anyway, the big news is that I now have a page on the JustGiving website, so people can sponsor me direct by going to my page - there's a link to it underneath my profile on the left. I also have a page on Facebook dedicated to the walk - just type in 'Richard Green's Sponsored Walk' into the search box. And I now have my first commercial sponsor - Victoria Allen Funeral Directors of Ludlow - many thanks! A link to their website also appears on the left.
And, of course, Peter and I did the third practice on Wednesday 3rd June. Once again Christine Parry kindly took us to our starting point - just beyond the swimming pool in Tenbury Wells. We set off at just after 8.30am and walked along Rhyse Lane, going east. The first village we encountered was Rochford, and we had a look at its charming Norman church (above left, see map). (There were quite a few churches to look at on this leg!)
Not long after Rochford we came to Eastham, and left the road to go to the church on a footpath. All was going well until we came across a patch of very long nettles, and weren't clear where the path went. So we crossed a field and ended up reaching the church (see right and map) via a farmyard - not the correct route, but the farmer didn't seem to mind.
A quick break for a snack in the churchyard and then we were off again, along the road towards Orleton. There were lots of hills, and with the weather being very humid, it was warm work! Then we had the joy of moving on to the next OS map before we saw Stanford-on-Teme church appear over the crest of a hill (see left and map). We popped up to have a look, but unfortunately it was closed.
There were, though, superb views down to the river (right).
From here, a well marked footpath took us through a farm, past Stanford Court, and back on the road towards Shelsley Walsh (home of the Hill Climb). Another charming church (see left and map) and here we stopped for lunch, as it was about 12.45pm.
From Shelsley Walsh we continued on the road for a while, then another (initially) well marked footpath took us quite close to the river. A little further on and reality seemed to depart from what was printed on the map. We ended up in a farmyard again, but luckily there was another friendly farmer who pointed us in the right direction (I must make note of all this for when I do it for real!).
After more road another, much better, footpath, took us alongside the river to Whitbourne. Here we were back in Herefordshire. Yet another lovely church (see right and map), and we were making good progress, as it was now 3.15pm.
A short break and we were off again, on another straightforward footpath, which eventually took us through a field and back into Worcestershire and down to the A44. A little bit of dodging the speeding traffic and soon we were in our destination village of Knightwick. A short section of the Worcestershire Way took us over the river (for the first time), where below some cows were cooling off with a drink (left).
Then the welcome sight of the Talbot pub came into view (right), with the church beyond, which appeared to have been sold off. A very welcome pint of perry followed, sitting outside, before Christine arrived to take us home.
All in all it was a great day, if rather warm and certainly very hilly in parts. Worcestershire is certainly a lovely county, and I think the day was made all the more enjoyable as Peter and I didn't know it that well before - so it was a real voyage of discovery. It was also good to finish at a pub (in fact, the first one we had seen all day!). So, only two more practices to go, and then it's the real thing!
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