Religious, practise meditation – to consider their place in the grand scheme of things. Athletes, tune in and focus – to cut themselves off from all forms of negativity and doubt. Acedemics, search for information – then soak it in like a sponge. Artists, free themselves from reality – in the hope of rising above normality. Scientists, constantly delve into the workings of the universe – in order to determine how it works.
MOHOmers pull on their masks of equanimity – ready themselves for all agents of frustration likely to be encountered on any given day’s travel.
Day 1 – The quickest way up and into Bonnie Scotland is going to be by motorway. Thankfully, today’s uneventful journey ends at Kingsbury Water Park as planned. A Caravan & Camping Club site, just north-east of Birmingham. A few hundred yards from Aston Villa’s plush training facility in Bodymoor Heath Lane. How times have changed from the ’60s when many an end to a training session, was concluded on uneven hard-standing with a fifteen aside – playground style.
Day 2 – The MOHO state of mind kicks in. Massive hold ups and slow moving traffic on the M6, coupled with periods of torrential rain slow today’s afternoon miles to walking pace at times. Culminates in a road closure and diversion just when tonight’s site was in spitting distance. It’s 18.40pm by the time Beasties edges onto the lush green grass at North Dykes Farm, on the outskirts of Penrith.
Earlier, the M6 snail’s pace crawl generates a spontaneous decision to break the journey with a two hour stop off at the 725 acre Trentham Gardens Estate. A welcome frustration freeing walk around the one mile long lake.
