Day 8 Shrewsbury to Cressage.Part 2.

Monday 29 August.
Having realized our error we had to get up onto the A49 bridge. Least said, soonest mended.

The first photograph is a view looking N from the A49 bridge. We also passed under a very nice old railway bridge, also shown.

We entered a wooded area but ith was not easy to tell where the track went, due to lots of fishing paths. We got lost. We ended up the wrong side of a reaped corn field. The next photograph shows the result of Shiel getting a thorn in her leg whilst we were trying to regain the route.

There followed areas of heavy knot weed infestation an interesting paddocks of old sunflower plantings. I've also included a view where the path went alongside a sweet corn paddock.

However our biggest path obstruction to date occured just before the route joined the B4380, and we were strictly 'on The Way.' Suddenly, on passing through a gate everything changed. Perfection. We were crossing the end of someone's garden! On the path, and just
before the main road.

The section beside the B4380 was horrendous, smelly and noisy. The village of Atcham had a nice bridge though, worthy of a photo. When we turned off to Wroxeter there was very little traffic and a nice church (photo).

There was quite a long road walk with extensive views until we entered our final farm crossing to Cressage near Dryten. It was tricky navigation, but not unpleasant until we turned off the farm track beside a small wood. The path was impenetrable at times, Shiel fell over. she has a black eye. The path was terrible and we were on it. We kept finding waymarkers. I find it amazing that such a major track is so badly maintained. We've crossed the world to be able to walk it.

Miraculously we eventually  reached the road bridge near Cressage. However we still had to get to our B&B, The Riverside Hotel. As it was about 2 miles up a main road, without a verge,  we had planned to take the bus. We forgot about Bank Holiday Monday!

We therefore decided to get a drink at the hotel in Cressage and order a taxi. That was our plan. Just before the Bridge at Cressage, we met a couple having a picnic on the river bank and got chatting. They told us the bad news that the hotel had closed down but they did give us a number for the taxi company. We had a good chat and they were interested in what we were up to. They also offered us water, and as Shiel and I had both run out we accepted gladly.

We then walked down to the crossroads opposite the hotel and phoned the taxi company. It was now about 5pm but the taxi company said they could do nothing until 6:30 pm. We were just about to risk life and limb on the road when the couple we saw picnicking passed by in their 2 seater sports car, Dan and his girlfriend. They asked about the taxi and when we told them about the delay Dan told us to hang on for 10 minutes and he would return and run us to the hotel. He did just that.

Meeting and chatting to such nice people is what makes long distance walking so enjoyable. That simple act of kindness turned what had been a pretty disasterous day into a day to remember. Thank you Dan and friend your kindness made all the difference to our day.