Day 45, Uttoxeter to Cannock Chase, Thu 20 Aug

Summary
Today’s distance: 24.6 km (15.3 miles)
Total distance: 1063 km (661 miles)
Distance to go: 565 km (351 miles)

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Last night I walked into Uttoxeter for my evening meal at Witherspoons. The best l can say is that at least it was better than I remembered my school dinners to have been. I then went to Tescos to get milk, muesli, strawberry yoghurt and fresh strawberries. I had one serving before going to bed and another when I awoke at 5:45am. I had let the muesli soak overnight for my breakfast serving. I packed quickly as it looked like rain was approaching and left the campsite at 7:15am. I met a nice group of people at the racecourse who were organizing a Western festival, over a number of days, to raise money for their local heart unit. They were a committed, friendly group.

I followed the Staffordsihe Way all the way to Stockwell Heath, a charming village with a little pond. I only really went wrong once, in Abbots Bromley where I finished up walking through the grounds of the girl's school. Thank goodness it was the holidays! However, if it had been term time there would probably have been someone around to put me one the right track. I arrived in AB at 11:20 before the pub opened at 12:00 so decided to divert to the pub at Colyton after passing through Stockell Heath. Unfortunately, that pub doesn't open at all during the day on weekdays. I am now in the first pub in Rugeley appropriately called 'The Yorkshireman'!

After leaving the Yorkshireman I headed across Rugelely towards Cannock Chase. On the way I was perusing the map, looking lost, when Peter, a landscape gardener saw me, We began to chat and he invited me in for a cup of tea, a pleasant interlude. I had then only about another 45 minutes walk to the campsite but it was mostly up hill on an extremely busy road. I arrived about 5:00 pm.

I checked in and showered and just returned to my tent when Mick arrived. He and Gayle walked the LEJOG last year and Martin had told me they would be in touch and would like to meet up with me and share experiences. Martin took me to the Ash Tree public house where we met up with Gayle and they shouted me my evening meal and we talked about walking. After a very pleasant evening Mark took me back to the campsite at Cannock Chase.