Having earlier in the week driven a 360 mile round trip to have fish and chips with my Dad in his garden, my lower back was crying out for a good stretch. My route was, Ayot St. Peter, Ayot Greenway, Wheathampstead, Harpendon, Batford (unintentionally), Mackerye End, Peters Green, Ansells End, Kimpton, Cuckolds Cross (I bet he is) Kimpton Mill, Coldicote Bottom (patent ointment is available at your local pharmacy), Ayot St. Lawrence, Ayot Greenway, Ayot St. Peter.
It was a much cooler day than of late and I even considered putting on a lightweight fleece as I booted up.
Ayot St. Peter is barely a place at all just a few houses randomly scattered about and a church. Not only was the church having a service this coming Sunday, the first day they are allowed to, but they were having a Sale of Produce on Saturday in aid of the local air ambulance.
Walking down through the woods I joined the Ayot Greenway which runs along a disused train track.
I left the track to walk by the River Lee or Lea, even OS can't decide, in to Wheathampsted.
To the west of the town I passed through a field covered in these blue flowers.
Then the next field was a riot of poppies.
It started to rain and I put on my jacket and then 10 mins later took it off again.
I rejoined the old railway track and then dropped back to the river. On the map where my ROW met the river there was a path on the other side which went up 1 field, met a lane and then continued on the other side of the lane as a ROW. I was hoping for a way across the river to follow this path but there wasn't a way over. I walked down my side of the bank to a footbridge, it was closed for repair, I continued even further up stream and crossed over a weir to then retrace my steps on the other side of the river along a road.
The hamlet of Mackerye End is pretty much just the house which gives it its name and ancillary buildings.
Heading towards Peters Green, the furthest point on the walk from my car. Here is the ubiquitous 'path through crops' photo. But not today glowing golden under an azure sky.
Jacket on and then 10 mins later jacket off again. It rained on me 3 more times during the afternoon but it was significantly warmer by then and my jacket stayed in my pack.
On to Kimpton, a village which Wikipedia tells me has more than 2000 residents but I didn't see a single one.
This bridge, on a private drive, feels a bit over the top to cross a ditch that may occasionally be slightly damp.
Flowers and bees.
The old church in Ayot St. Lawrence is in need of a bit of repair.
I then went back on to the Ayot Greenway again, clambering up the embankment by the side of this bridge.
Back up through the woods to Ayot St. Peter on what felt like a very old sunken path edged with ancient beech trees.
Nearly 21 miles in just over 7 hours, an hour less than a similar distance took me last week in the heat.
