Yes I know I haven't reviewed XLIII yet - there is a reason... Watch this space.

XLIV: Alan Sillitoe and Fay Godwin, The Saxon Shore Way: From Gravesend to Rye (1983)

Or the loneliness of the long distance hiker.

An account of a walk I want to do, although I'm not sure I'll do the eighteen mile sections he does. Impressive. Although there are a couple of point where he seems to catch a train, which is cheating. It'll be interesting to see what has changed in twenty-five years - I must try and replicate Godwin's photographs - and what has survived. One thing I note is he only gets to Rye, not Hastings (although the sign at Kelmsley only points to Gravesend and Rye). I note he tends to take the route nearest the sea - so he follows the coast not the hills at Folkestone (on my Explorer map the exact lower route is not clear until the canal). I worry by the amount of wall climbing he does.

You've got to admire someone who writes "I find and enjoy, on my zigzag perambulations, no fewer than three secondhand bookshops - always the mark of an interesting town."

But he would find it interesting today?

There are odd route maps - the walk is shown as straight on strips. I've seen these for cycling and surely a left or right turn is necessary for navigation? But I'm glad I stumbled upon this.

XLV: The Stour Valley Way (1995)

An account of a 51 1/2 mile route from Lenham to - well I'd better not give away the twist - at the end of Pegwell Bay you have to come back on yourself. This means that the walk from Upstreet to Pegwell Bay needs to factor in a three mile return to Sandwich.

Again, two books in one, and it may be that I test the water proofness of it at Wye tomorrow. It may be more Stour than Valley. I don't quite get the mileages - Wye to here is about twelve miles, but if you add up the segments it's 16. I hope to get as far as Chartham. The extra two hours (which looks flat) may be too much.

From: [identity profile] brisingamen.livejournal.com


You will of course be amazed to learn that I also have a copy of the Sillitoe/Godwin. If you fancy company for any sections, I'd be game. I've been meaning to do it myself for years.

You might also want to take a look at the book Godwin did with Richard Ingrams on Romney Marsh and the Royal Military Canal (I've kind of conflated that and the Saxon Shore Way in my head).


From: [identity profile] maryread.livejournal.com


Paul Theroux ages ago in A Kingdom By the Sea perambulated the entire island. More or less. I stick to small bays and available paths here in the middle of a continent. When the weather is bad I choose which loop according to wind direction, so I can start out with the wind at my back and don't have to face into it until I am warmed up.
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