L2L Towcester to Daventry - 17 miles

 I parted company with the busy Watling St for today at least.


I hadn't realised that today's route - a public footpath - crossed the A34 dual carriageway. Having waited to cross to the central reservation for a few minutes I considered going back and finding another route. It wasn't made any easier with being on the inside of a bend.


Eventually across, I realised how dangerous it was!


It's that man again.

A blackbird singing his heart out at Greens Norton.


At St. Bartholomew's, I met Elizabeth.


Elizabeth's father died when she was still a little girl. With a young family he'd expressed that he didn't want a large funeral.
His wishes were respected but her mother an artist, designed a stained glass window to commemorate his passing.  It was fabricated by Francis Spear of Kent and with the Bishop of Peterborough's agreement was installed in 1961. 65 years to the day of that service of blessing, Elizabeth was in church to remember the day.


The window depicts all those aspects of her father's life that were important to him and his family. It's a beautiful window.

From Greens Norton, the route was mainly across farmland for the rest of the day.


Tortoishell or a Comma butterfly???


Long tailed tit

I've no idea who thought rain covers for rucksacks should be red...but they certainly seem to catch the attention of our bovine friends.


...and with a Kite circling opportunistically overhead, I made for safety.


Once safely through the nearest gate I was reminded of the humourous warning sign in Welsh,  'Cachu dwfn"


The building stone has changed as I go North. Even the building forms are different.


The rape is already shoulder high



Madam! Please !!!

Now! . Thinking I was on the line of the footpath but with no sign of a gate I trudged around for what felt like ages - very tiring on the ankles!


Texel sheep always seem to have an 'attitude'. This one stood it's ground as if to say  "OK Son, you want some?"


Having realised that the red rain-cover might be asking for trouble, I decided to stop before going any further and stuff it into the rucksack. This clearly caught the attention these young boys and by the time I'd finished they were waiting for me!!!


...and escorted me 'til I was off their 'turf'



It'd been a warm morning and I'd been hoping to reach a pub in either Litchborough or Farthingstone but unfortunately both were closed.

So at times like these you reach for the emergency supplies. Mark and Lettie had provided a mercy parcel for just these situations.  


A few cubes of Montezuma's perfectly hit the spot.

At Everdon Stubbs, the bluebells put on a perfect display 



before I dropped down to Everdon where after I'd walked the length of the village and circumnavigated the lovely church...




I eventually found The Plough that was hiding beside the church all the time!!!


The final stretch - only a few miles to go - climbing up the steep Newnham Hiil



Addersmeat ??


.....and isn't that a Dakota?





The route into Daventry wasn't the most uplifting, industrial sheds, housing estates and
graffiti on the underpasses .....


....although they've got their priorities sorted!!!


Finally, with tired feet....


through Daventry town centre, 


a quick sketch.....and to the hotel for a hot bath and supper.






Comments

  1. Pam17 April 2026 at 01:06

    My in house aeroplane expert confirms it is a Dakota

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David's 2022 Walk17 April 2026 at 12:32

      Thanks Jonathan. No apparent markings and didn't show up on the Flightradar app. Fantastic sound from the engines though.

      Delete
  2. Mark17 April 2026 at 01:29

    Think the Dakota is from the Battle of Britain heritage flight based in Lincolnshire - it has quite and unusual SEAC markings

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David's 2022 Walk17 April 2026 at 12:40

      Thanks Mark. I couldn't make out any markings at all. Could this have been Kwicherbichen??

      Delete
  3. Jill and Neil - interrailing for seniors17 April 2026 at 02:32

    Great to hear you’ve got your moojo back! 🐄🐮

    ReplyDelete

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