Coast to coast walk day 4, further along the Elham Valley Way. Walking for Cortijo Romero.

Last week, we continued our "coast to coast" walk along the Elham Valley Way starting before the pretty village of Elham.  As soon as we arrived back at our starting point, I was cheered by being among the rolling gentle hills and green vistas of this beautiful area.  The Elham Valley Way has its own marked signs along the whole route, each time giving a little boost of reassurance that we are on the right footpath.  However, this morning we planned to deviate from this path for one reason only - cows.

Much as I like cows, I am a little hesitant about walking through a field of them.  So Martin kindly spotted an alternative route avoiding the potential cow field which was worth the extra distance.  Or so we thought!  After cleverly following our diversion, totally cow-free we rejoined the planned route and promptly came to a stile with a florescent yellow hazard sign.  "Cows and their young present in this field" it warned.  We studied the map once again and this time, the diversion meant walking miles back in the opposite direction and then trudging along next to a road to avoid the cows.  Taking a deep breath, I decided that I would give the cow field a go. They might be docile, I hoped and prayed.

The first part of the field was empty of cows, so I thought we might have escaped them.  But rounding the corner, there they sat right on the path ahead of us.  Sensibly, we walked around the edge of the field, as far from the relaxed looking cows as possible and my wishes were answered.  They barely even noticed us, and sat peacefully basking in the sunshine as we made our way out of their field with a sigh of relief.  The reward was worth it, with a tree-lined footpath winding its way towards the picturesque village of Elham.  And as with all our walks now, we made our way straight to the church in the heart of the village.

As I sat in the warm autumnal sunshine on a bench next to the church graveyard, I knew that this walk was helping give space each week to think about Bill, my father.  While grief and loss are difficult topics to talk about or even sit with, here in the graveyard such parts of life feel acceptable and real.  I still think at times my Dad is here, happily looking out of his window of the nursing home.  On Saturdays, I have moments when I want to Skype him as this was the day of the week that we talked.  And then it hits me for a moment like being winded, a shock feeling that he isn't there.  Yet I still imagine telling him my news, the things that I know he liked to hear about.

Reluctant to leave this reflective moment and warm bench, it was time to keep walking on.  We headed towards the next village of Lyminge along footpaths that felt more open, mostly next to fields.  Our path opened out and followed another field with more cows, but this time they were happily behind a fence.  And were much less docile with the matriarch of the herd making a loud bellowing noise at our presence.  We left them to their grass chewing and reached Lyminge, which suddenly felt a little more urban than the quiet remoteness of the Elham Valley.  I was happy to pass through, finding our way to a golf course that would lead us towards the end of today's walk.

The last part of the walk was slightly uphill and by this point I was feeling tired.  I still can't walk like I could pre-vaccine and have to take rest stops and more pauses than normal.  Slowly, slowly we kept on the path uphill, past typical Kent apple orchards with the top of the hill in sight.  All I wanted was to stop and sit on a bench, yet this elusive bench was another 500 yards along from the top. When we finally made it, the view was the magnificent with our first glimpse of the south coastline and the sea in the distance.  Coast to coast was now feeling within reach!  One more day of walking to go....

"A walk in nature walks the soul back home" (Mary Davis)

 

If you would like to make a small donation to help Cortijo Romero in Spain survive the on-going ups and downs of the pandemic, they have a JustGiving page set up.  Cortijo Romero is one of the most healing places I have ever been to and much needed to help people through these difficult times.  https://www.cortijo-romero.co.uk/