York to Shiptonthorpe

Hello. Here we are on day six, and another 21 miles done. I am hoping that day seven will be the last day, I am hoping I can manage the 20 miles to the Humber Bridge, my finishing point. I've taken my mind off to other places today, there has been some long straight roads. It's better that I distract myself and try and ignore my sore feet. In my head I have been remembering times gone by, the people I have worked with, the jobs I have done, even past boyfriends have come to mind. I wonder what they are doing now. Pity I didn't have a ghost writer by my side, making notes, it would make a good story.

Distraction works for me, I love to push negative thoughts away, and look at the positives. Even thinking about not so good things that have happened to me, or mistakes I have made, can be turned around. There is plenty of time to think on a long walk. 

Breakfast this morning was a rather noisy affair, the Youth Hostel was full of teenagers, some of them came on a coach from Belgium. This made a bit of a queue to get served . I sat and people watched. 

The hostel is on the side of the river, so I set off along the footpath to the city centre. It was a gloriously sunny morning. There were rowers out on the water, plenty of dog walkers, people jogging, mums with kids, it was lovely. 

The pleasure boats are being prepared for the days work.

I left the river and walked around part of the castle wall, and carried on out of York on the A1079. It's a busy road so as soon as I was past the ring road I took off to the right on the B1228, which was not quite so busy. When I got to Elvington I sat for a few minutes and wriggled my toes out of my boots. I was a bit annoyed that I hadn't packed shorts, there have been days when trousers were too hot. Today I could stand it no more. I did think about cutting the bottoms off, but decided to roll them up to just above the knee. That's better.

Over the bridge just past Elvington.

And into Sutton upon Derwent. I thought this was funny to advertise the Beer Festival outse the church.

The Pocklington Canal was going in the right direction so I thought this would make a change from the road. Oh dear, ten minutes of stumbling over clumps of grass and molehills I came to a section that was completely flooded. Nothing for it but to turn around and go back to the road. Time was getting on and I couldn't afford to waste any if I was to get finished by 5pm. 

When my feet are sore I find it easier walking on tarmac, I can make good progress by lengthening my strides. I stopped when I was in Melbourne and rang a possible B & B, the answer machine was on so I left a message. Twenty minutes later the owner rang me and said she had got a room. I now had to quicken my pace knowing that I had a destination to reach.

There was a place on the map called Scamland, shame there was no sign for it on the roadside. Just at that point at the junction was a very big haulage and farm machinery yard and warehouse. These characters made me smile. The strange things you don't expect to see. I walked in to get a close up. I've just had a look at their web site and sadly they don't have these two on it.

More long stretches of walking, upping the pace, past Everingham and finishing at Shiptonthorpe near Market Weighton at 5.30pm. I have a lovely room, relaxing with my feet up. There is only me and two other guests here, the owner doesn't live on the premises. She is coming to pick me up in the morning for breakfast at her other guest house a mile away.

And then the push for home begins.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.