Friday 10th June Zed Mini Challenge 14.35 miles (23.1km)
2nd recce for a possible LDWA Anytime Anywhere Group walk in November 2022.
Route: Meadow Park, Limekiln Plantation, Normanton on Soar, Zouch, River Soar, Devil’s Elbow, Kingston on Soar, West Leake, Fox Hill (93m), East Leake and home.
From the door it was out to Meadow Park but taking the path which skirts round the southern boundary then under the bridge taking the FP running besides the brook. However, at the vehicle bridge instead of turning right and following the RoW I went straight across to Stone Bridge. Then it was across a field sticking to the outer edge to arrive at a Y-junction. Here I took the left hand fork to follow a path through a strip of woodland. Exiting to another field then ahead to the main road turning right then next left onto FP ahead to Calke Hall Farm and right on BW to Manor Farm. Today I used the FP through the farm as there was a wire blocking the route I took last time which went round the outside of the farm. Down the field which had cattle this time then crossing Brickyard Lane and ascending on a BW to the A6006 close to the 80m OS Trig Pillar. Through Limekiln Plantation and on exiting to the field I observed two Brown Hares. Ahead then passing Grange Farm onto Stanford Road. Next section was following this road where there is no footway so needed to take care of traffic. Over Bowley’s Bridge with signs of help as it seems people have jumped onto the high speed railway. Just before turning on a right angle bend I saw a Lapwing chasing off a Crow on land that was rough almost heath like. There was safety at last when the FP is reached which heads towards Normanton-on-Soar and goes through the village’s cricket ground. At a bend in the road the FP heads towards Zouch where the A6006 has to be crossed again then on the towpath which follows Zouch Cut and goes passed a canal bridge and Lock 55. Here I saw a Common Tern. Zouch Cut meets the River Soar and I following this feature passing Devil’s Elbow, possible picnic spot when I do the group walk for the LDWA. In a field near here I saw three more Lapwings. Continuing on the river path to Kegworth Bridge then heading briefly down Kingston Lane to hit the FP which goes over fields and under a low tunnel to Kingston on Soar. From Gotham Road an FP heads towards The Pool and there is a great view of Kingston Hall. Arriving at a FB I saw a Heron closely followed by Little Egret fly out of the ditch. The FP then hits a track which is a BW. This starts as a metalled track which heads to Scotland Farm then turns sharply right on an attractive green lane which heads directly to West Leake. Now familiar territory as I head through West Leake pausing at the Church and at this point I switch my phone to low power mode which meant I couldn’t take a photo of the church or send a WhatsApp to Jane. Then down main street to tackle the ascent of Fox Hill (93m). During the march to the top I noticed a Lapwing in the air and heard it’s calls “Peewit Peewit”. Great to see one but in the past they were whole flocks of them. At the junction with the FP it is downhill to Stone Bridge. Passing this bridge I knew I was around 15 minutes to home. On my home ward route I now I use the recognised RoW which follows north of Kingston Brook to go under the Bridge, into Meadow Park and home.
My target for completing this walk was five hours but when I saw that the OS time was 4 hours 46 minutes I set this as a target to aim for. On the finish line AKA home the watch stopped at 4 hours 51 minutes so did get under the five hour mark but outside the OS time by five minutes! After I logged the 14.4 miles I was ahead of the #walk1000miles pace marker for first time this year.
Reached the 450 miles point of #walk1000miles.
Message from Country Walking magazine:
“Amazing going! Six Hadrian’s Walls. 2,588 Eiffel Towers. Half a MILLION Danny Devitos. It’s not every human being, or even every superhero, who takes strides that big, least of all in the modest, unflashy way you have. Quietly, patiently, determinedly, you are building a massive achievement. Keep at it.”
Logged 14.4 miles on Myvirtualmission. Pace marker distance is 438.3 miles “You are 19.3 miles ahead. You’re knocking it out of the park, Christopher.”
Myvirtualmission 457.7 miles towards #walk1000miles target.
Monday 13th June 6th East Leake NE Loop Walk: 7.54 miles (12.13km).
After completing this walk I am at the halfway point to #walk1000miles in 2022. What an amazing last four days mini break this has been starting on Friday with 14.4 miles, then Saturday with 14.2 miles, Sunday 21.8 miles and finally on Monday 7.5 miles totalling 57.9 miles. Now on the 13th day in June I completed 101 miles this month with an average of 7.7 miles each day.
Reached the 500 miles point of #walk1000miles.
Message from Country Walking magazine:
“Stop the traffic! Call the TV News! Declare a National holiday! You just became a Proclaimer – which means you have walked 500 miles and you WILL walk 500 more, just to be the one who knocks down the door of what you thought your limits were.
Make no mistake: this is a GREAT achievement and we don’t listen to that little critic in our head anymore who says we can’t do amazing things, and don’t deserve nice things. Treat yourself, pronto! (And yes, you do deserve a medal, and you can get a 500 mile medal from:
www.walk1000miles.co.uk/shop ”
Logged 7.5 miles on Myvirtualmission. Pace marker distance is 446.6 miles “You are 54.6 miles ahead. Wow, Christopher! Amazing progress.”
Myvirtualmission 501.2 miles towards #walk1000miles target.
Sunday 26th June LDWA Anytime Anywhere Group Rushcliffe 100km Part 1
Trent Bridge to East Leake. From East Leake car park used NCT Number 1 bus and alighted at the Council House – south of Trent Bridge.
Route: Trent Bridge; Suspension Bridge; Toll Bridge; Wilford; Clifton Bridge; Clifton Greenway; Barton in Fabis; following obsolete alternative Trent Valley Way route through to Thrumpton; Gotham Hills; Gotham; Cuckoo Bush; Dark Lane; West Leake (The Star); Sutton Bonington; Zouch; Normanton on Soar; Limekiln Plantation; West Leake; Fox Hill; Meadow Park and East Leake.
Note: The route from Trent Bridge to Thrumpton was one of the options for the original The Trent Valley Way. This is now obsolete as currently the route on the north side of the River Trent is the only option due to joining with the route the River Trent takes in Derbyshire.
Reached the 550 miles point of #walk1000miles.
Message from Country Walking magazine:
“You got here quickly didn’t you? Amazing. And now you’re on the downslope, already! Can you see the finish line in the distance? If not now, you will soon. And take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come. How robust you feel. How easily you breathe. How deeply you sleep. Try and dig out a pre-#walk1000miles photo of yourself; as the miles have piled on, the miles have somehow come off that chassis, haven’t they? Keep motoring on and see you at 600!”
Logged 22.2 miles on Myvirtualmission. Pace marker distance is 482.2 miles “You are 77.4 miles ahead. Christopher, are you sure you’re not a pro?”
June has been another amazing month I completed 164.4 miles reached 564.6 miles. Also, I have hit the following #walk1000miles marker points: 450, 500, & 550 and have the badges to prove it!
chrisnavigator 