[View the story "Day Twenty-eight: Felton to South Charlton" on Storify ]Day Twenty-eight: Felton to South Charlton Storified by St Mikes Open4All · Sat, Jul 07 2012 14:38:26
The day started well with breakfast and a tour of the premises, meeting sheep, chickens, and looking at masses of fruit and vegetables. www.andrewlobb.co.uk , listen to his brilliant songs, and perhaps even order a CD. Andrew, Charlotte and YeverinStMikesOpen4All
The plan was to walk parallel to the A1, so on the old A1 I encountered a sight that we would miss from the dual carriage-way, the
Davison memoria l to Admiral Nelson.
Derek with NelsonStMikesOpen4All
I had a short chat with Derek ...
Derek with Nelson on the old A1An Audioboo by StMikesOpen4All
Me with Nelson (going the wrong way!)StMikesOpen4All
and he took the obligatory one of me ....
The plan was then to follow a footpath back across the A1 and wend my way up to Shilbottle. The path was exactly wehre it should be according to my GPS, and led down to the stream ....
The way is blockedStMikesOpen4All
Footpath?An Audioboo by StMikesOpen4All
I gave up and toiled back up to the road where a lady assured me that there is a bridge, just a bit further along the bank. I went back down and searched, but no bridge. When I made it back to the top again, I asked the lady when she had last seen the bridge? Two weeks before ... I suggested that she go down and check as it looked like a lot of water had been through there and scoured both sides of the bank.
So, Plan B. There is a bridleway marked back on the west side of the A1, so I headed for that. The sign said to close the gate after me but actually it had been arranged not to open ....
Close the gate after you (if you can open it)StMikesOpen4All
Then a toil through waist high wet grass in waterlogged lanes and meadows ...
Bridleway?StMikesOpen4All
BridalwayStMikesOpen4All
Thank heavens for my GPS which kept me assured of exactly which muddy overgrown bit of path I was on at any one time.
Things got exciting when I encountered a herd of young bullocks. I kept calm and walked slowly towards them, and at first they retreated. But one of them had to be brave and came up to smell, lick and poke me, and the others followed for a better look. I wonder if the florescent jacket unnerved them. After a stand off of some minutes, I persuaded them to move away and was able to make the last 100m to the main road. I apologise that I did not think to take a photograph or record an interview for posterity.
Unidentified signStMikesOpen4All
I recrossed the A1 and found my way through narrow lanes to Shilbottle, arriving at 2.30pm. Time for lunch and to wonder how the St Michael's Fete was going. Charlotte's sandwiches were delicious. Lynsey from The Farriers Arms gave me a cup of tea, and they all made me very welcome. Lynsey, Debbie and SandraStMikesOpen4All
Lynsey, Debbie & SandraAn Audioboo by StMikesOpen4All
Walking on the road in the afternoon was much easier and I made good progress down into Alnwick.
Entering AlnwickStMikesOpen4All
The town is worth seeing but I could not linger so past the castle and out again heading north.
I encountered Anne and Derek on the Lion Bridge as I headed out ...
Two old ruinsStMikesOpen4All
Anne and Derek at AlnwickStMikesOpen4All
Anne and Derek on the Lion BridgeAn Audioboo by StMikesOpen4All
And so at last to Gavin and Lorna's at South Charlton where I have had a chicken dinner. There had been a burst water main but that has been fixed so I can have a shower before bed.
Tomorrow my penultimate walk to Beal, but stopping off for tea with Patrick in Belford, who contacted me by Twitter.
