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…
After a delicious breakfast at the very good Lansdown House B&B, which I’d recommend to anyone, I walked through Market Drayton to rejoin to Shropshire Union Canal and headed towards Nantwich some 13 miles away.
It was a bright and dry spring morning, which lifted the spirits even further and made the walking a delight. I headed first to Adderley Lock, where I met an American woman who I had spoken with yesterday. She is sailing solo a narrowboat along the canal and I met her as she was making her way through the system of locks.
It was a busy day on the canal, with queues of boat owners waiting patiently for their turn at each lock. I love how friendly and talkative everyone along the canal is. A short while after Adderley, I stopped to chat with another boat owner, who was making his way to Banbury for a wedding and had the most gorgeous and playful three dogs. He offered me a cup of tea – this is the sort of thing that happens all the time on this walk and consistently affirms my belief that people are good and strangers are always worth talking to. Alas, alas I had just moments before stopped for a drink, so instead we just talked a while and then I made my way towards Audlem, passing along the way across the border between Shropshire and Cheshire, adding another county to my tally.
Audlem was bustling with families taking walks along the canal and dining along its banks. The village appears to do very well from the passing river traffic supporting its pubs, shops and restaurants.
I headed a couple more miles along the canal, which gave amazing views in all directions, before leaving the waterway to follow quiet country lanes to Nantwich.
Along the way, I came across the junction to one of the UK’s long abandoned nuclear bunkers, which is now a tourist attraction and presents the traveller with the unusual juxtaposition of a sign advertising a secret.
In addition to relics of the Cold War, I also stumbled across a rather randomly placed Thomas the Tank Engine, who incongruously sits in the middle of nowhere with no apparent explanation.
It was then a short stroll to the edge of Nantwich, where I joined the well kept pathways through the riverside park and into the centre of town.
Nantwich is a well heeled little town, with an abundance of Tudor buildings, giving the visitor an impression of its important history.
I made for the Cheshire Cat, where I am staying this evening, dumped my backpack and went off to explore the town.
The Day 26 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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