Day 10: Banbury to Harbury

Yet another day on the long side, but again we have an easy going route, spending the majority of the morning on the Oxford Canal. We leave the canal once for a church stop and then the second time to head west to our lunch stop in Farnborough. After this we have a longer afternoon, making our way to Avon Dassett before joining the Centenary Way over the Burton Hills and north to the village of Harbury for our deserved night's rest.

Our day started with a Eucharist in the Methodist church where we'd spent the night. Jonny was paying attention.

Father David gave his latest installment on Newman's life, now turning to his time as a Roman Catholic.

The walk started with a long but pleasant stretch on the towpath of the Oxford Canal...

.. which gave Andy plenty of opportunities for arrowing fun.

The railway run quite close to the canal, so there were more trains - another Voyager...

...and a Freightliner hauled by a General Motors built Class 66 locomotive, which Julian tells me is rapidly becoming the European standard freight loco.

There was quite a lot of traffic on the canal - because of water shortages, they can only pass through the locks between 10 and 2 I believe, so we were in the canal rush hour.

At Cropredy, John gave a reflection based on his book about Newman.

Further along the canal, a sign warned of Patrick's best friends!

We eventally left the canal and headed towards Claydon...

...where the front markers were seen leaving - not so much the "ascent of man" as the "descent of pilgrim".

St James' Church...

...had been opened especially for us.

As had the loo - but there was a queue (inevitably!).

Marie was surprised by Mike and the camera.

On down Crossing Lane to ... the railway crossing.

This is a busy stretch of track, and Mike caught a southbound Voyager and a northbound Clubman - Julian was impressed.

Our first real climb of this, our second-hilliest day. They were harvesting the field we were walking through, which focussed the mind!

Joan's more interested in the camera; Jonny adjusts the arrow behind.

Lunch at The Inn at Farnborough was a hot affair, many pilgrims seeking shade.

Alexe gets to walk a little between pub and church.

St Botolph's Church, for post-lunch prayers.

Some pilgrims moaned that they had walked 10 miles but the sign showed we'd only got 5 miles from Banbury. Well, if you want to walk a busy road...

Farnborough Hall, a National Trust property, whose owners used to own the whole village.

Over another hill - with a long ploughed field before stubble - to Avon Dassett.

This dog decided to follow the pilgrims from Farnborough and, secured with a tow-rope, had to be repatriated by Clare and Rosemary.

At Avon Dassett there is a Catholic Church, built in Newman's "Second Spring", designed by an associate of Pugin.

Parishioner Peter, who is related to Newman, talked about the church - falling numbers mean it needs a new role.

Inside St Joseph's.

On through fields overlooking the M40 motorway - not as noisy as we'd feared.

And still the sun shone.

Godwin tackles a footbridge.

This brought us to Burton Dassett church...

...with its wall paintings...

...and terraced interior.

Sue led the reflection.

The spring outside the church, formerly used for Baptisms.

Up from the church to the country park...

...and an ice cream van (advised by the front markers to hang around for a while, he did good business!)

Gina surveys the view down from the park.

A pilgrim approaches the beacon at the top of the hill.

Gina tried a novel method of descent.

After a pleasant path down, there was a long road stretch, at the end of which we were pleased to find the drinks car.

This fast B road lead to the M40, so Clare was on duty to try to slow the traffic (by being visible, not as a speed hump).

The final 3.5 miles was a pleasant stroll through farmland, with interested cattle, and ultimately views as far as the Malvern Hills (Chester Pilgrimage 2004).

The hall was a bit cosy and required some "bedspace management", but it has SHOWERS.

We found a pub with an Irish band playing (which is why these words were delayed) and Jonny got to join the band!