September 12. New Flying Horse in Wye to Canterbury. 17 km.

Packs are on, Peter’s back with the team, and off we go.

Many of the places we’ve stayed at offered hot chocolate or chocolate bombs, and rubber duckies in the bathrooms.

We had to start with a bit of road walking to get out of town. Peter calls walking on roads “the grinder” and we all dislike it as most of the vehicles don’t slow down. I even had one lady stop and say “I couldn’t see you, darling, in the dark of the shade”. I didn’t point out she was also wearing sunglasses. But it was nice to be somebody’s darling!

Peter started out quite slowly in the morning, as it was quite hilly. We also stopped to check numerous bumblebees on the trail and Peter waited to protect some from dirt bikes he heard racing up the track.

Ken was sitting on the trolley waiting when a group of trail guide trainees came by, maps in hand.  He told them he was a temporary local attraction. Gave his 3B tips for the trail – beer, bench and bathroom – never pass one by. They seemed quite impressed with our planned adventure.

Scott is more Speedy Gonzales, so sometimes he gets way ahead and hangs out in his chair waiting for us.

Just had to show a pic of this huge Yorkshire pudding. I told Ken my sister makes better ones so now he wants to know why she’s never made him any.

This table is actually covering an old well.

The last half of the day was on a fantastic  flat trail alongside the Great Stour River. They call it the Great Stour to differentiate it from the 8 other Stour Rivers here.

I looked for the sheep and the swans we were warned about but saw none. Felt kinda ripped off.

Check out those fuzzy ears! These meadows are reclaimed quarry pits. Cattle have been grazing in the area since the 1800s.

Aw, there’s the swans! The owner of the dock was out sweeping duck poop – he said it was worth it though, having ducks and swans in front of his house.

Large murals under the bridge.  Many scenes but this one is from the book The Wind in the Willows

More Watling Street, the original Roman road from the coast to Londinium ((London if you didn’t take Grade 10 Latin in High School like I did. Remember Mr  Guerin, Dana?)

When Ken and I arrived in Canterbury (having walked from London) in 2022, it seemed a little more impactful than today’s arrival did. We had followed The Pilgrim’s Way and felt more pilgrim-y. We were embarking on the further road of the Via Francigena to Rome, and had a pilgrim blessing from Reverend Emma at the memorial to Thomas Becket, before heading off again, with our trusty Rawley the Trolley.

Arriving in Canterbury and at our house. One garden wall was covered in passion flowers and fruit. 

We are in a house for two nights. Scott made a yummy pasta dish for supper as he figured we’d been having a lot of pub food (true, but it’s so good!)

The dynamic is different with the four of us, but still special to be walking with the whole family.