Stage 1 Wednesday 17 Sept: Canterbury to Shepherdswell (17km/10.6m)
The UK portion of the Via Francigena
Today we did the green section of the above map, about 17km/10.5m. It was a grey, mizzly start to the day that evolved into a windy, but mostly dry day and a great walk.
Our hotel, The Castle House Hotel, home for four nights. First steps… heading offOutside the Cathedral shop. The crowds attending university graduations in the Cathedral made it too difficult to start at the Cathedral. The first Via Francigena sign… 1800km to go. It’s actually about 2000km and fortunately we’ve already done the last 1100!
We headed out past St Augustine’s Abbey (closed to the public) named in honour of the leader of the mission to bring back Roman Christianity to Kent in 597 and first Archbishop of Canterbury.
Then in to look at St Martin’s Church, the oldest church in the English-speaking world. St Martin’s was originally built in Roman times and in AD597 it was St Augustine’s first base.
A sign in the yard of St Martin’s Outside St Martin’s Canterbury Cathedral in the background En routeA converted oast house. An oast house is an agricultural building with a distinctive conical roof, used historically to dry hops as part of the brewing process for beer. These iconic structures feature a kiln with a rotating cowl to create a draft, a drying floor above, and a stowage or barn area for cooling, pressing, and storing the dried hops.While many have fallen out of use due to the decline of domestic hop-growing, numerous oast houses are now converted into private residences, shops, and other businesses (thanks Google)Another converted oast house…… with decorative catsSt Mary’s Church in PatrixbourneThick roof thatchingMorning tea (muesli bars)A post box set in a residential gatepostGlistening Inkcap mushroomsHedgerows everywhere, many with Hawthorn and Sloe berries
A short train ride home from Shepherdswell and then into busy Canterbury for lunch.
Yoghurt the cat, one of the smoochers at a cat cafe. Lynn & I intend to return for more lovin’. Note his eyes… one blue, one hazel Dinner at Pinocchios
Morocco Food Tour 