The day Jonas blew in from the West
Decided to up the ante on the walking today. A quick glance at Google maps suggested that a round trip via Sudbrooke would be in the region of 8 or 9 miles. Just the right increase from the five miles I did the other day. When I got to Scothern I faced a decision as to whether to turn left for Nettleham and home or carry straight on for Scothern. I couldn’t remember whether it was Sudbrooke or Scothern I had decided was my objective so I went for the latter, longer route.
This way turned out to be 8 miles to Nettleham and a further three back to Lincoln. My feet by then, unaccustomed to the pounding, decided they needed a rest and I took refuge in the warm and very welcoming Tea Cosy Cafe.
It was quite hard going this morning. Partly this was because my body is still not hardened to the walking and the feet in particular were providing feedback. The other problem was that winter storm Jonas, having dumped record quantities of snow on the East Coast of the USA has been making its way across the Atlantic. The upshot of this was half my walk was into the teeth of a gale which, whilst emulating real world conditions that I might face on the coast to Coast walk, was an unnecessary element at this stage of my training.
Whilst sat in the caff emptying the pot of tea Google told me that there was a bus due in ten or fifteen minutes. I decided that 8 miles was good enough for today and that adding the three more it would take to get me home would wait for another day.
I bought a small pork pie from the coop for my lunch and the bus arrived on time at five past the hour to take me back to Lincoln.
A few observations arise. Firstly you notice a lot more when you are walking. This is not new news. Just reissued. This news is only partially true this morning because of the weather which caused me to concentrate on the road ahead. I did spot, fwiw, a small electricity substation by the side of the road in the North Greetwell area. There was also an old garage that was no longer in business but emitted echoes of its past.
The other take home message of the morning was the traffic queuing to get into Lincoln. It was either stationary of moving very slowly for the whole of the walk from our house along Wragby Road to the roundabout on the bypass. It’s no life is it? I also heard the RaF Red Arrows practicing above Scampton. I could see the smoke trails but not the planes themselves. The cars and the planes seemed to be very remote from what I was doing, walking along the footpath. Of a different age.
The road between Sudbrooke and Nettleham was particularly hard going into the wind. There was no footpath and it was a lot easier to walk on the road than on the long grass verge. I did step up onto the verge whenever a vehicle came towards me. Those cars that moved across giving me a wide berth got a wave of thanks. A few didn’t.
That particular stretch of road was long and it was quite satisfying reaching the bend that took the straight out of my sight. A little further on there was a sign offering a dozen eggs for £2.20. Were I carrying a day bag I’d have stopped and bought some. As it was the soreness of my feet kept my mind focussed on moving forward.
I’m not anticipating problems with sore feet in the long run. One of the reasons for these walks is to wear in the boots and get my feet used to the pounding. I’m back home in my office now, a brew on the go and a comfortable leather chair taking the strain. My natural pose for the last twenty five years.
Old Jonas, if he will permit me the familiarity, is flexing his muscles as I write. The trees in the back garden are animated and I am happy to be indoors in the warmth. My next objective will be 10 miles, interspersed with sessions in the pool and the gym. Good eh?
Nettleham village green
Nettleham church