Hullo. How are you? I hope you are having a good day. I’m Mark and I’m walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats…
I marched up the hill from Tiverton town centre, wandered past Spider-Man and turned onto the start of the Great Western Canal.
The path was busy with dog walkers, joggers and couples having an early morning stroll.
A headstone and information panel marked the location of the 1961 plane crash, which claimed the lives of two bomber pilots but undoubtedly saved many Tiverton residents as the pilots managed to persuade the aircraft away from the town and into the canal.
The first 4 miles was an easy, flat start to the day, which made for a good lead in to breakfast at a nice farm shop cafe in the village of Halberton.
Returning to the canal, I stopped to read some of the great many memorial plaques on the benches that dot the towpath.
The feeling of love was palpable and took my mind to some of the special places I hold most dear and the loved ones I have created memories with.
I love the idea of the living being able to return to a special spot or particular view, special perhaps only to two people, to spend time in quiet reflection, dipping themselves in memories of such joy.
I know some people want to avoid grief. But grief is the price of having loved and having been loved. It’s a price worth paying.
To never have loved, to never have been loved – that would be truly sad.
At Burnthill Farm, the canal comes to an end. The site of Lowdwells Lock marks the point where the path now follows the remains of the canal – always evident, always present, but no longer a waterway.
As I approached Greenham, I crossed the county boundary from Devon into Somerset, taking me to the third LEJOG county. Here, the path changes to heavily waterlogged fields and farmland.
I gave a moody looking bull a wide berth, keeping to the edge of the field and keeping an eye on him.
It was then a tramp through several miles of mud and floods, putting my boots to the test. Occasionally, some helpful local had placed stepping stones or cut a way through a higher path to avoid the worst of the wading.
Today’s 18 mile walk necessarily ended with an urban trek as I had to pass all the way through Wellington town to the other side, where I checked into a hotel on the eastern outskirts and started the process of drying my gear.
The Day 12 Vlog
Fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support
As I walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats, I am hoping to raise £10,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support, who do such a wonderful job of supporting families through the most difficult times. If you are able to spare any amount and would like to donate to MacMillan, please do so through my Just Giving Page.
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