Last Day!

So the last day arrived - and as I woke in Alfrick the sun was breaking through the clouds and the forecast for the rest of the day was good. I was eager to get going and complete the rest of this epic journey. After a delicious breakfast of boiled eggs and toast, I was taken the short distance to my starting point back in Knightwick.

The first part of the journey was on a very pleasant footpath through a field that went right by the river. It was shortly after this point on the practice that Peter and I went slightly wrong, but aware of our mistake I found the stile on the other side of the field (having first passed by a herd of cattle who initially came towards me, then ran away!). Over a few more stiles and I was onto a lane for a short while before turning left onto a bridleway.


The bridleway, muddy is places no doubt from the rain of earlier in the week, took me through fields of corn with poppies growing at the edges. Passing over the disused railway line and through Hayley Dingle, it eventually turned into a lane again and brought me into the charming hamlet of Brockamin.

From Brockamin it was only a short walk to Leigh Church, my first port of call of the day. I had clearly wildly overestimated how long it would take me, as the faithful were expecting me at 1pm and it was only 11.30! However, at about midday the vicar, Andrew Bullock arrived and the additional time I had meant that he was able to show me the impressive tithe barn, dating from the early 14th century, that stands next to the church. It is the largest full cruck barn in the country, and was restored - and is now maintained by - English Heritage.


Before too long the faithful arrived with a sumptuous lunch and so I was able to take on board ample refreshment before setting off again.

From Leigh my route took me along the lane to Bransford. Here a footpath left the road and went through a field and some woods alongside the river to Bransford Bridge. Climbing a few steps up onto the Bridge, I crossed the river for the first time since Little Hereford, and could see it making its way towards Worcester.

Luckily there was a pavement beside the busy road, which I had to walk on for a short time before I could again join a footpath. This took me across the railway line and through more fields to the hamlet of Upper Wick. Once more there was a little walking on throught the lanes of the hamlet before entering the final section of footpath towards Powick.


Before long I could see the top of Powick Church tower in the distance. I passed under the A4440, with traffic thundering overhead, and soon arrived at Powick Bridge, where Christine Parry from Ashford Carbonell was waiting to greet me, with her mother Irene and Yvonne Slater, another Ashford resident. After a brief chat with them I set off again on the Monarch's Way in search of my destination.


Soon I could see the distinctive shape of Worcester Cathedral in the distance, and I avoided the mistake of the practice by cutting across the top of the loop that the river makes as it approaches the Severn.

Finally, and triumphantly, I reached the confluence, and so the end of my journey, at 3.20pm. In the picture, the Teme is on the right, the Severn, which it flows into, is in the distance. On the bank a woman was sitting, enjoying the afternoon sun. "I've just walked the entire length of the River Teme", I said. "Is that the River Teme, then?" she replied!



Feeling quite euphoric, I then turned left and started to walk up the Severn towards the Cathedral. Soon the fields turned into a tarmac path and I reflected how different the hustle and bustle of the city was from the remote tranquility of mid-Wales, where I started on Monday morning. To my left I could hear the cheers from the cricket ground, where the England and Australia women's teams were playing a test match. Now I was approaching the heart of the city and the Cathedral was towering above me on the opposite bank.

I crossed the bridge that takes the A44 over the Severn and walked back down the opposite bank. I entered the Cathedral at 4.10pm, where Christine, Yvonne, Irene, mum and dad were waiting for me. I then called upon the Dean, Peter Atkinson, who made me a cup of tea, and told me about the Worcester Pilgrim, a character from the middle ages who was discovered in 1990 buried near the central tower, with walking boots and a staff. We wondered whether he had been doing a sponsored walk, and I felt an immediate affinity with him!

I pootled back into the Cathedral and mum, dad, and I attended evening prayer, after which I posed for the final photo of the trip with the Dean in front of the Cathedral's nave altar. After that we went home - in the car.

So, my epic journey is over. It has been at least a year in the planning, and I feel a great sense of satisfaction at having completed it. But there's more to it than that. There is something quite amazing about travelling such great distances under your own steam, and it is truly wonderful to see familiar landmarks appear into view as you trudge along. As well, of course, as being a money raising venture, this has been a real spiritual pilgrimage. I have been greatly encouraged by the deep faith and generous hospitality I have encountered along the way. I have come to appreciate the timeless quality of a river - no matter what else is happening, it just keeps flowing, like God whose love and mercy never ends. And I really have developed a wander lust - so watch this space for the next adventure!

Like an author writing a book, I must thank a huge number of people, without whose help this journey would not have been possible. In no particular order I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the following:
To the members of "Team Teme", the support entourage who ferried my kit and kaboodle from place to place, and came to cheer me on, namely Duncan and Josephine Green, Christine Parry, Jeanne Hunt, Yvonne Slater, Irene Wallage, Peter Stretton, and Matthew Oliver.
To those who accompanied me on the practices, and thus ensured that the real thing went without a hitch: Shaun Ward, Peter Stretton, Elliott Ashley, Tim and Sue Phipers, and Jonathan and Alison Adams.
To Christine Parry, who did much of the ferrying of people to and fro during the practices, and was an unfailing provider of refreshments during the whole enterprise.
To those who provided a bed, shelter, and food and drink on the overnight stops: Neil and Nigel in Leintwardine, Claire in Tenbury and Janet and Josie in Alfrick.
To my travelling companions on the walk itself: Tim and Sue Phipers, Neil Crawford-Jones, James Stewart, Susannah Hall, Peter Dyke, and Elliott Ashley, together with canine friends Brae, Bertie, Purdy, Boris, Rigby, Milly, Archie and BB.
To those who welcomed me at the various churches I called at: John Peregrine, Churchwarden, and the faithful of St Michael's, Beguildy; Ruth Davies, Churchwarden, at St Mary's, Llanfair Waterdine; to Brian Whittal and Ian Hay-Campbell, Churchwardens, at St Mary's, Bucknell; to Frank Jones, Churchwarden, and the faithful of St Mary Magdalene's, Leintwardine; to Julia Tandy, Churchwarden, and the faithful of St Giles, Downton on the Rock; to Madelyn Carlyon, Churchwarden and James Stewart, Parish Priest, at St Mary's, Bromfield (and special thanks to James for providing refuge from the rain and a fresh pair of socks); to John Nash and Veronica Batsford at St Giles, Ludford; to Frances and Geoff Marrow and Michael Poyntz at St Mary Magdalene's, Ashford Carbonell; to Mr & Mrs Jenkins and Mr & Mrs Sandall at St Mary Magdalene's, Little Hereford; to Jean and Owen Picton and Claire Lording and Judith Dunkling, Parish Priests, at St Mary's, Tenbury Wells; to Max Jourdier, former Churchwarden, at St Mary's, Stanford on Teme; to Myrtle Kneen, Churchwarden, at St John the Baptist's, Whitbourne; to Jean Colley, Churchwarden, Andrew Bullock, Parish Priest, and the faithful of St Edburga's, Leigh, especially for a splendid lunch; and to Peter Atkinson, Dean, and the vergers of Worcester Cathedral.
To all those who have so generously sponsored me, and to anyone else I have forgotten to mention who has helped in any way.
Above all I thank God for this beautiful river, the wonderful places I have been to and the amazing people I have had the privilege of meeting.

Bye for now ....!