Another grey start to the day, the last nights rain had ceased thankfully. I returned to the church to start the next stage and set my GPS on the go.
I rejoined the towpath and followed it through the Lea Valley. Runners and the waterfowl were my company for the day.
The peace and quiet were chalk and cheese compared to yesterday. Apart from the brief sections around Broxbourne and Stanstead Abbots, my sound track were the birdsongs. I eased into the walking, relaxing I was out of London.
I’m always ‘on edge’ in cities, but with the reputation of the big smoke, I was on heightened senses more so than usual.
I managed to get better footage for my video I will make. Feeling comfortable to leave my phone to get the ‘walking past the camera shots’.
Broxbourne was roughly half way and the route took me away from the towpath, to skirt around St. Augustine’s – it was closed, no stamp from there.
I was feeling good and it was too early for food; I pressed on. I joined the ‘Hertfordshire Way’ national route, I relaxed even further, knowing I now have signs to follow. Might not be the yellow arrows, but the stag became a comfort.
It followed a ‘man made’ river, passing by some huge houses – certainly a wealthy area. At times the footpath was slippery with wet mud, but I managed it without ending up like a turtle.
By midday my belly was rumbling, just as I entered Stanstead Abbots. A canal side pub ‘The Jolly Fisherman’ beckoned me in for dinner and a pint.
I was 2 miles short of Ware (according to the sign), my check-in wasn’t until 4pm. It really was a short day. I dragged my heels this morning and didn’t start until 9am, and by midday I was a 40min walk short of the stage end!
Fuelled up I continued onwards, eventually arriving into Ware, finishing at the St. Mary’s church – not quite as grand as Waltham Abbey, but their stamp is a good one, depicting the church.
As I left, the rain arrived, but I was only a 10min walk to my BnB and they allowed me to check in early!
Day two done.
Stu's Camino 