Day 59: New Balderton to Dunham

An absolutely gorgeous baby bear's porridge sort of Spring day... not too hot and not too cold but just right. From our B&B we just had to cross the road and we could access the disused railway footpath that we left yesterday and we were on our way.: about 30km today. The footpath meant that we avoided having to walk through Newark on Trent and we initially walked along side a little pond with birds and fisher-folk to catch our attention.

Shortly we left the disused railway and followed the Trent Way as we entered Notinghamshire: our 16th county so far.

We followed the River Trent for a while 

and then the path led us off into the countryside where the locals were friendly but a bit curious.

At one point we passed through a field where there was a crowd of men who were busy picking leeks. A large machine dug them then a team of guys trimmed them and put them onto a mobile conveyor belt from where they were packed and transported off. A very neat operation.

At one point we reached a sign on the track we were to take saying that it was closed for the next 1km. Hmmmmm! What to do? We were reading and re-reading the notice trying to see of we could make it say something different when a car pulled up and this kind gentleman chatted to us and told us that the reason the road was closed was that it had been washed out during flooding ad there was a large hole still filled with water and with quicksand at the bottom. However, he informed us gleefully, as long as you just step carefully and keep to the right hand side you could get through OK.... the locals do it all the time. So we did and all was OK ... here is the offending obstacle 

The footpath then went back to the river Trent which we followed all the way to Dunham. It should have been an easy walk but the rain and sunshine had encouraged the grass to grow and so it was hard going swishing through the long grass and also it hid any holes and lumps in the track so our knees and ankles took a bit of a beating. However, all was well and we reached our B&B safely to be greeted by a nice cup of tea and a thick slice of carrot and walnut cake.... not so bad!