The weather forecast for Monday included temperatures possibly 30°C or even higher, so I set off just after 6.30am to allow time for a slower paced walk, and potentially time to stop in the middle of the day if needed. The early start didn't prevent a reflective moment to the day.
Dad's gate
If you follow me on Facebook then you'll be familiar with this view as it's been my cover photo on several occasions. It's taken from the hamlet of Summerley, east of Coal Aston where I grew up, by a gate on the Dronfield 2000 Rotary Walk, dedicated to Dad who died in December 1999.
In light of my sabbatical and its sense of stepping back, there's much in these words which resonate with its wider purpose too. Mum and my sister Yvonne started the day with me, reading these words once more before walking together to Apperknowle Methodist Church where we prayed before I set off fowards Chesterfield.
En route very soon was Revolution House, a thatched cottage in Old Whittington, home to a plot to overthrow James II in 1688, led by three local noblemen.
Having threaded my way through several backstreets, the next highlight of the morning was walking alongside the Chesterfield canal on the Cuckoo Way which runs the full length of the canal from its junction with the River Trent. Although in water for nearly all its length, the Chesterfield end of the canal is disconnected from the eastern part because of a collapsed tunnel near Killamarsh, something the Chesterfield Canal Trust is working hard to restore. Although I lived close to Chesterfield for some time, I think this is the first time I've walked along the canal, including a different view of Chesterfield Parish Church with its crooked spire.
A fair bit of the rest of the day was through some former colliery villages between Chesterfield and Mansfield to the southeast, including a stretch of paths linked as the Five Pits Trail, leading over the M1 motorway.
Over the past couple of weeks, it's been interesting to see how much arable crops have changed, partly as I've moved south, partly with warmer weather. The long wet grass of a fortnight ago is now more likely to be getting cut for haymaking, and paths are leading across ripening crops of wheat, barley and vegetables.
At the end of a steady paced walk in the heat of the day, it was good to arrive at the home of friends and colleagues, Nicola and Chris.
After a good night's rest, Tuesday morning dawned a little cooler. The day itself still felt quite sultry as I headed east from Kirkby-in-Ashfield towards the minster town of Southwell.
Somewhat unexpectedly, I came across the highest point in the Nottinghamshire before joining the Robin Hood Way which took me through some areas of woodland (a reminder that much of the area has its links to Sherwood Forest), several fields of ripening crops and a stretch of disused railway line, which led into Southwell itself and the stunning architecture of the minster.
Once again, my hosts overnight are colleagues, Richard and Becca. Becca works for All We Can, the charity I'm supporting on my way. Do click here after 1.17pm on Wednesday (13 July) where you should see an interview about my pilgrimage.
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