A walk worth waiting for.

It didn't start raining until about 0800 and just sort of rained lightly until about 1400. So it was a morning of pottering. I fixed the drip on the galley tap and lit the fire and Helen did some crafty stuff. That is not meaning sly but hand made! We had toasted tea cake and a Snickers for lunch so decided as soon as it stopped raining. We decided to walk to Willoughby and then back via the tow path. When the rain stopped it was a beautiful autumnal afternoon and a real pleasure to be out and about.

The rain meant that the mud from this field stuck to our boots. I wished that it was covered in grass to make it nice and easy. Braunston Church is just visible in the distance.

I am so glad that I said White Rabbit first thing on Wednesday 1st October as my luck was in. Instantly the grass grew. (It is the next field really and is obviously for lawn turf).

Crossing the busy A45 we were soon in the village. It dates to before the Doomsday Book. There has been a church here certainly since 1215 and probably before. St Nicholas's was granted to the Hospital of St. John the Baptist in 1246 and this became part of Magdalen College Oxford and this connection can be seen in some of the stained glass. The link was broken in the 20th Century.

St Nicholas Church. Unfortunately it was locked. The present building largely dares from the early part of the 16th Century. 

The old 18th Century ironstone building that used to be the Smithy.

17th Century timber framed building Vale House. The porch was made from timbers from the manor house that was demolished close by in 1795.

We saw many alpacas around the village and wondered whether these represented different breeds. Maybe they do but I think some have been shorn making them look skinny of neck.

On the way over the fields to the tow path we came across a hedge full of sloes so couldn't leave them on the bush. I had forgotten to bring a carrier so we had to use the green shopping bag. Fortunately they are not squishy. We had bought a bottle of vodka just for them.

It was a beautiful evening walk along the cut with the sun shinning and the wind having dropped. The reddened light of the evening sun made a beautiful atmosphere and this was all added to when All Saints Church started their bell ringing. All in all a lovely day, despite the rain.