Homeward bound

I'm currently at home in Bristol for the weekend for what should be my last break before finishing my pilgrimage.  The few days' break also allows me to support our youngest daughter who will be the soloist in a concert this evening with a local orchestra.  Once that's done, I'll be heading back to the East Midlands tomorrow, aiming to be in London by this time in two weeks.

Dales and valleys

I had a gentler start to Wednesday, enjoying a couple of hours relaxation before heading east in the direction of Barnsley.  I imagine most wouldn't associate this area with as part of the Yorkshire Dales but the landscape and village names still echo that area.  A constant landmark through my 4-5 hours of walking was the TV and radio transmitter on Emley Moor, which I've discovered is the tallest freestanding structure in the UK, and a Grade II listed building.

After being predominantly in a built-up areas as I crossed through Bradford on Tuesday, it was nice to be surrounded by ripening fields of arable crops and the seemingly ever present sheep, as I wandered through 'Last of the Summer Wine' country, following parts of Transpennine Trail which cross this area (and part of my following day's walk too) which I found to be very well way-marked.

Talking of way-marking, anyone used to walking in rural areas will probably have encountered more than the odd field where it's tricky to find the route across or round.  I've certainly not been immune from that, particularly in the last couple of weeks since I crossed the border into England.  However, no doubt about where to go across this ripening wheat field:

Home territory

Thursday began with more walking on the Transpennine Trail, walking along the Upper Don Trail which also forms a link between the edge of the Peak District into Sheffield coming from the NW of the city.  One thing that's often said about Sheffield is that green space is never too far away - the following image of Grenoside is taken about one and half miles from the city centre, not far from Hillsborough football stadium, home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Once in the City Centre, I paid a visit to Paradise Square with its Georgian architecture, where John Wesley preached on 15 July 1779, to "the largest congregation I ever saw on a week day," recorded on a commemorative plaque:

I met my sister in nearby Sheffield Cathedral, where we were shown the Chapter House which includes a stained glass window depicting Wesley's preaching in Paradise Square (bottom left in the first of these images).  After a pause for prayer, we set off to walk through the south of Sheffield, taking in two of the city's parks (and, needless to say, a cuppa) before heading to Coal Aston where we grew up, and where a small reception committee was waiting!

We popped into both the Methodist Church ('Bottom chapel') and the Wesleyan Reform Church ('Top chapel') where we said prayers, as I been doing at each church I've passed en route before reaching home with the following view over towards Chesterfield and beyond - part of my route after the weekend.

Looking ahead

All being well, I will be in London a fortnight today, before heading to Dover for the last few days.  Although there's still a couple of hundred miles of walking, suddenly it feels like the end is in sight.  Having returned to Bristol at lunchtime yesterday, one job I completed was sending off the final parcels of maps to collect and use en route over the coming three weeks.  Highlands, islands, fells and dales are now largely behind, but like many of the places I've already walked through, there are plenty of unfamiliar spots to come.

p.s. in other news, I've picked up the fourth blister of the trip.  Thankfully small, hoping that it will heal whilst I am taking a break.