Public Footpaths in England are a way of life. These are paths through farmers’ fields, wooded copses, and villages, that are right-of-ways for all to use. Some allow horses to use them, others are reserved for people only. They have been developed through the centuries in England and you can always be guaranteed to meet a fellow runner, someone out walking their dog, or, if allowed, a horseback rider. This morning Ray and I went out for a 1 hr 04 mins run. We started from Dusty and Fiona’s house on a rutted, residential, unassumed lane, turned into a narrow tarmacadamed road way that wound through an outstanding stand of oak trees, up over the M4, and down into the tiny hamlet of Yattendon. We then ran through the grave yard of the ancient St. Peter and St Paul’s Anglican church, and found a wooden gate leading into a Public Footpath. We went through the gate, carefully closing it behind us and set off across the fields. We probably ran along the edges of the farmers’ fields for about 40 minutes. It was quite a feeling of freedom. We ran in the tractor tracks, or on the grassy hump between them, sometimes muddy, sometimes riddled with horses’ hooves, and at other times uneven grass. It was hard on the ankles but it was exhilarating. Some of the clay-soil fields had been recently ploughed and pig manure spread, so we had full benefit of all the typical country smells! On the way back, we had a slow, steady incline to tackle. When in Cornwall Ray and I watched a senior gentleman run up one of the cliff paths with ease. We marvelled at his consistency and how far he ran up hill. I copied his style and found it actually worked. It’s sort of chi-running in that you take tiny steps lifting your knees up as opposed to pushing them, but there was also almost a ‘bounce’ to the stride. I found the perfect rhythm and it really helped carry me up the hill.
In the afternoon Ray and I went into Reading to find the station and figure out how we could get the train up to London. We found the “Oracle”, i.e. the shopping mall and had a look around. You would love the variety of clothes and we were especially taken with the great display of men’s toiletries in Boots. The clothes are quite chic and fun and seem less expensive than in Canada. Food on the other hand is extortionate, and generally we find everything to be very expensive. It was also really cute to see an elderly couple ballroom dancing in the sunny courtyard of one of the upper levels of the mall. They had ear phones in and were obviously wired to hear their dance music. Reminded us of Argentina where you see tango dancers in the street. We got back around 7 p.m in time for dinner and a glass of wine and bed around 10:30 p.m.
Fiona and Dusty live in a lovely area of England. The country side is hilly and either farming lands neatly divided into unending fields, or woodlands with well developed oaks and other trees. The tiny roads lined by neatly-trimmed, green hedges or stone walls, wind lazily through the countryside The houses are mainly older, all different shapes and sizes but I think it is the tiled roves covered with ancient green moss and brick walls overgrown with ivy that add the final charming touches. But the best is the people: the shop merchants. It still makes me feel special and squirly inside when I hear “hello darling” addressed at me in the identifiable English accent.
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