Today I passed another construction site for the HS2, high-speed railway. Unlike the sites I passed on Saturday this one had loads of lorries going in all directions. The path had been diverted. Shepherded by steel-mesh barriers and red and white plastic I was led across the construction site. Frequent traffic lights controlled my movement. Stacked white portacabins looked down on me. Two bridges looked almost complete. Red mud embankments could be seen in all directions. A huge pile of gravel was being amassed. Then I was back in large waterlogged fields, including a few with the remains of Brussels sprout plants after they had been harvested, the smell was distinctive, reminding me of my mother's Sunday dinners.
A high point today, pulling me forward despite an painful knee, was lunch at Baddesley Clinton, a National Trust property. The lady on reception seemed a disappointed that I was more interested in the whereabouts of the cafe than visiting the 15th Century manor house. It looked an attractive place to investigate in the future. The M40 crossing marked another milestone in my journey today.
Over the last few days most buildings have been of a dull red brick with tiled roofs, including the large farmhouses I passed. However, the churches have been of a weathered sandstone, with solid towers, surrounded by graveyards with leaning gravestones and large drifts of white snowdrops. Today five churches were on my route. I admired the one at Berkswell with its sundial, clock, unusual porch and crypt. I visited the latter by climbing down stairs hidden in a boxed pew. The final church I visited (after a slippery climb up and down a steep hill) was at the entrance to Henley-in-Arden. It was clearly of Norman age with its curved arches and muted decoration.
Henley-in-Arden was in a contrast to the plain red brick houses I had encountered, its high street seemed full of ancient half-timbered buildings. For example I am lodging in the White Swan pub, which is a 16th Century coaching inn. It was busy when I arrived, a "Wake" was being held.
No comments:
Post a Comment