The first bit of sun on the walk, the views have finally revealed themselves – if only I had a drone to capture them.
A quick breakfast then I was out the doors at 0800h. I made my way to the start of the stage and headed Northeast out of the town into the countryside.
The sun chased the clouds away, the murk only in the distance. I ambled along, I felt like taking a slow pace today. Enjoying the views and the Skylarks singing overhead.
Mostly over fields followed into Ashdon. As I arrived, the church warden was opening up, he showed me to the stamps and invited me to the coffee morning in the church hall.
In keeping with my slow, relaxed day, I took him up on his offer. I joined half a dozen of the parishioners, a black lab and the vicar for a cup of tea.
Keen to know of my journey, I happily regaled them of my pilgrimage so far, and the road ahead. After half an hour I continued on, grateful for the pause and friendly company.
The sun was fully out now at this point, warming my back. I rejoined the Skylarks and strolled on to Bartlow. On my approach I came across three towering mounds – the size of houses. They are Roman burial mounds, some of the highest in Britain.
From there I stopped at another St Mary’s church where I ate my dinner. The walls have faded paintings – one depicting a dragon.
Turns out. Prior to the English civil war, there were elaborate paintings, however William Dowsing, one of Cromwells assiduous iconoclasts, order their destruction and the removal of crosses and other religious items.
In the years later they repainted the walls, the dragon would have been George and the dragon, but old George has faded away, leaving only the giant serpent.
From there, a bit of road walking followed before cutting across fields into Horseheath. The glorious sun was urging me to find a beer garden, and I obliged, stopping for a pint at the Red Lion.
The last 5km took me along an old Roman road into Withersfield, completing the stage and the Cambridgeshire bit at….. St Mary’s church.
The pews had different wooden carvings, I found George and his dragon.
A short walk into Havershill for the night marked my crossing into Suffolk. Tomorrow is a big one. I’m covering two stages in one day, due to no accommodation in Stansfield, the end of the next stage.
Stu's Camino 