Day Seventeen Stage 6 Wrotham to Cuxton

Day Seventeen Monday June 15 

A moment please... ATTENTION! Yes... YOU! 

Runnymede is synonymous with the words ‘Magna Carta’ as this was the place on June 15, 1215 that King John agreed to have the ‘Great Charter’ sealed. John was King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. This event has later become recognized as one of the most important turning points in British history as it marked the road to individual freedom, parliamentary democracy and to the supremacy of law. The document is the foundation of all democracy and human rights as we know them. An official ceremony to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta will take place on Runnymede Meadows on today, unfortunately we wont be  able to make it but its worth a mention.

Magna Carta Time! 

One Lousy King





Back to our regularly scheduled program.....

Just About Halfway There

Starting Out

 I've mentioned gifts. Walking with my head down to avoid rocks and roots and other obstacles has an advantage that you see the ground in detail. There are,  of course, rocks, feathers, poop, more poop, weeds, roots,snails, slugs but too often the detritus of human existence. Most of it is unpleasant - if they even bother not to let their dog go in the walkway why dont British dog owners take the plastic poop bag with them after they pick up the poop?  The point is not to collect it in the bag then leave the bag, people - but sometimes theres a fun surprize like these pottery bits. Who knows how they wound up where they did. They're not new, probably late 1800's, a little chip of Blue Willow. Just a gift. Life is made up of little gifts, I accept them gratefully.

On the same subject, we're counting hair ties. Yes, you heard right, those coated rubber band things to make a ponytail with. We're up to 20 now. If we see one we'll call out "Hair tie 20!" As we're walking along we noticed these hair ties kept showing up. Then we noticed they were usually on paths horses were on. We talk about many things and one mystery we think we've solved is that there are only hair ties on bridleways because someone walking would be able to feel a hair tie slip but also stop and pick it up. A rider probably wouldnt feel it or be inclined to stop and find it. Mystery solved. 
20 hair ties. 

A moment of silence for the GPW.... the Genuine Pilgrim Way. Our path met up with it for a long time today, paved and unpaved. This is how it looks unpaved in its natural trackway state, the real deal. It was a good day for nature, contemplation and  de-stress, as stressed as walking can be. Aching feet, little toe cramps, stinky shoes, where the next sheep wool is coming from ... small problems in a big world. Today I dedicated to remembering ancestors, souls gone by, June wildflowers .......

Field of Foxgloves

.........and friendly animals like this sheep with a bad itch. Can I take him home? 

I've been here since the end of May and seen summer slide in slowly. The  flowers that were blooming when I arrived, like the Hawthorn and Cow Parsley, have finished. Its now time for roses and elder flowers. In the fields are buttercups, and what I think is Corn Marigold. The hay has been cut, but the barley is still green. 

Anyone want to buy a sweet cottage?  £945K or $1.47m. Nice little Tudor, not a Tudor Style, a real one. Its called a Kentish Hall House. 

Nice Landowners Make Wide Footpaths

Got Barley?

 Whats that dark spot? A shadow? Could it mean.... SUN? 

The Number of the Day

Linda Waits for the Taxi, Either That or She's For Sale

Off to the Inn on the Pond pub in Nutfield. Its a short mile walk from the hotel across fields, a good way to wind down the evening with a stroll to loosen tight muscles. Fish and chips and a cider served by the rotten toothed dreadlocked bartender.  Nice guy though, I just wouldnt want to kiss him.

Bah Bah to Nutfield, Tomorrow we move on to Thurnham.