Stafford and the calf that went PING! (14th April 2014)

Woke up, had a shower and waited for my friend to come home before heading out and on the road to Uttoxeter, where I'd be catching the train home in the evening. Left my friend at her workplace and 2 miles up the road, my calf decides its had enough and goes ping! Ouch...

So, I have to take the decision to call it quits and head on back into Stafford and see if I can catch an earlier train home. In a way, it's probably worked out for the best. When I return back to the trail, it would be easier to come back to Stafford the night before, stay with my friend and then head out up to Edale via Uttoxeter, Leek and Buxton.

This trip has been very hard going, primarily because I tried to pack in too many miles. Over the course of the last 6 days, I have done nearly 140 miles! I have to justify this because I've so little money/time, that I have to do as much as I can in the time I have. The further I go North, the more expensive train journeys become, etc. 

But I'm nearly at Edale now, and there the next phase of this end2end I'm doing will begin...

Way of the Millennium - Ironbridge to Stafford: 13th April 2014

Today opened onto a beautiful day, blue skies, not a cloud to be seen! Had breakfast early and headed out towards Telford on the main road out of Ironbridge, knowing that today's hike is the last long-distance march of this trip. First up is a long slog up the valley wall's hill on the road to Telford! Saw seven magpies as I left Ironbridge, but there are no stories never to be told on this blog! 

View down into Ironbridge

Soon I found the Silkin Way, walking through woods, passing a very nice hotel and then onto Telford's large park walks, which emerges onto Telford's very large shopping centre! Stopped for a coffee and a biscuit, stocked up on liquids and a choccy bar and then headed onwards to Newport, where I would find the Way of the Millennium trail, which would then take me all the way to Stafford.

The Silkin Way

The route to Newport was all main roads and grass verges, 8 miles of mind-numbing tedium! So much so, I didn't realise I'd passed Lilleshall, one of the National Sports Centres and where England sometimes train. Camera ran low on charge again, so plugged it into phone's spare battery charger for an hour, just so I can take a few pictures later on. Plod on and finally arrive in Newport.

Selfie

Don't ask why this pic turned out weird! Near Lilleshall village.

St Nicholas Church, Newport

Stopped for some refreshments, had a quick look around and found that the Way of the Millennium starts some miles outside of Newport, off the busy A518. While we're talking of main roads, I really hate people who park their cars on pavements. Not drives, or just two wheels, I'm talking the WHOLE damned car, forcing pedestrians onto the road. No. Just. No. Next time I'll be less forgiving...

Eventually after a hairy hour on the A518, I find the beginnings of the Way of the Millennium. This route will take me all the way to Stafford where I will be staying with an old school friend. First though is the matter of 13 miles...

I'm going to have to count up all the counties I've walked through!

A518 - hairy!

Turn off, another half a mile to the Way

Up onto the old railway bridge and there the Way starts! 

The Way of the Millennium is based on old railway lines, a Roman road and woods, meaning for the most part, it is almost dead straight, a boon for a marcher like me and I make very good time through Gnossall, past Haughton and Derrington, before I get a message just before I go under the M6. It tells me to come off the way and to head for Stafford Castle! Just as I come off the Way though, my left calf decides to throw a bit of a tantrum, becoming very sore...

Getting to the castle is a bit of a faff, trying to work out which fields are safe to walk on and hopping along on my injured calf! But eventually I work my way up the steep hill and there in the shade of the castle is my welcoming committee! 

Stafford Castle

Showing my appreciation! 

It's been a long, hard slog today! It can get very lonely while walking so it's lovely to be greeted by two beaming smiles! It's also very nice to be fed and waited on! ;o)

Tomorrow I head home, but not until after I've done a 12-miler to Uttoxeter...