Finishing the Via Francigena.

Wednesday 8 June.

 

I got up before 6:00 am this morning to make a cup of tea. It was still raining but there was brighter sky showing in the distance and we were hopeful it would clear up. I put the TV on for the weather forecast and it was supposed to become sunny and warm as soon as the sun got a bit higher in the sky. We decided to get ready and put on our rain jackets at the start, this would keep us warm initially rather than a fleece. I made the breakfast and Moira got the daypack ready. It was 7:00 am when we set off.

 

Back on the Via Francigena.

It was still raining slightly as we climbed the hill from the farm but the sky was definitely getting brighter and the clouds breaking up. Once at the top of the hill it was a pleasant walk along the lane with woods on one side and fields of wheat on the other. When we reached the junction with the road into Shepherdswell we picked up the waymarks for the North Downs Way and the Via Francigena. It was now on narrow paths very wet from all the rain, it wasn't long before our shoes were soaking wet and our heights were increased by inches of mud under our soles. Most of route was through the corn fields but the paths were cut in wide swathes but still very muddy. We soon came to a crossroads, one was going to the village of Coldred, a village about a kilometre away near the A2, instead we followed the lane opposite, Singledge Lane, I had remembered seeing this name in the guide book and on the map. It was marked with the sign for the '16' cycle route to Dover but we didn't check for any walking route waymarks. It was a lovely walk on a dry tarred surface and the sun was now shining and the rain jackets packed away but soon we were worried by the lack of waymarks.

Singledge Lane.

 

Moira got the iPad out for the guide book but it didn't help, you have to be following all the time to know where you are and if you have gone wrong it doesn't tell you where you are. When we were doing the Via Francigena I would write the route out in a little note book each night for the following day and this was easy to use to keep track as we went along. I should have done the same this time or carried the iPad as we walked. It was a long way to turn back to the last waymark and we thought we were at least on the cycle route so that should get us to Dover anyway. Singledge Lane was about 8 km long and eventually cleared the farm lands and reached houses in the suburb of Whitfield. There was a road sign indicating Dover 4 miles straight ahead but the cycle route was pointed to the left. Moira was now doubtful about where the cycle route was actually headed but I thought the route indicated to Dover might be heading for the A2. I won and we followed the cycle route. Soon we met a woman out with a pram walking her baby, she told us to turn up to the right to pick up the Dover road from a roundabout, from there it was a pavement all the way, she promised. We settled on that but checked with a man we met further up the road, he confirmed the woman's suggestions but told us how to get back to the North Downs Way but it involved a 3 mile detour and he said the conditions would be very bad after all the heavy rains.

 

We followed the road to the roundabout and fortunately there was an underpass to get us over this busy junction to the road we wanted. It was a busy road, indicated to be going to Dover North, and there was a pavement all the way. It was a steep downhill and halfway down we came to the 'Welcome to Dover' signpost. At the bottom of the hill we checked at a map at a bus stop, we were at Buckland, and from there it was a straight road, A256, with a pavement into Dover town centre. It was still about 5 km to go and very hot now. We stopped at a Morrison's supermarket to use the toilets and also bought a cool drink. After that there was a walking/cycle route to the town centre, now just 2 km. It took us along a lovely river path with lots of ducks swimming about, there was also a black bird with a red beak pecking about in the reeds, it was a moorhen.

River walk to town centre.

A moorhen.

 

Eventually we got to the town centre and had completed the section of the Via Francigena that we had skipped because of my back pain. Although we hadn't followed the official route for part of this section it had been only a little bit shorter and in addition we had walked the bit from Barfrestone to Shepherdswell and would have to do it again later. So it had still been a good day's walk!

 

In the town centre there was a MacDonald's and we had an iced cream while making use if their WiFi. I got yesterday and today's 'Telegraph' downloaded and uploaded a good number of photographs to the Google cloud. It was still too early for lunch but we checked at the tourist info office for an Indian restaurant, we fancied a curry. They directed up to one nearby but it looked a bit upmarket, though the prices were normal. Now we had found one we went to the seafront and sat on a bench in the now very warm sun. We watched ferries coming and going into the harbour and also three people swimming backwards and forward in the water. I wondered if they were training for a channel swim.

 

Dover centre.

We sat for about half an hour resting and when ready to go for lunch Moira said she wasn't that hungry and a curry would be too much for her. Instead we got one fish and chips between us and ate it on a park bench. The fish was cod and not as nice as the haddock we are used to. After lunch we strolled through the town and admired the beautiful church before making our way to the railway station.

 

We just missed a train when we arrived at the station and had an hour to wait for the next one. We went to he pub opposite and had a beer. I tried the bitter for a change but it is an acquired taste and I have lost it, I will stick to lager. We read the newspaper on the iPads until it was time for the train. The train was to London Victoria but our stop at Shepherdswell was just the second station and it took under 10 minutes. The walk back to the farm at Barfrestone was a bit longer from the station but it was pleasant in the afternoon sunshine. The edges of the fields at the start of the lane was a mass of bright red poppies.

Display on red poppies.

Back at Barfrestone.

 

When we got in we sat outside with a cup of coffee until it was time to come in for 'Eggheads' and dinner, just a hamburger tonight having had a biggish lunch, There wasn't anything different to watch on TV after the washing up was done. We got to bed about 9:00 pm and I managed to finish the crossword before getting to sleep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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