Deeping St James, Keal Lodge CL (N52.670112 W0.279909) Contd 1.......

 Sunday 7th May 2023

Dry but cloudy start. Not cold at 14c, rising to 20c later in the day (if the forecast is right!).

To church for Kathleen.

I do a little shopping, for something we forgot, in what must be the smallest 'supermarket" I have ever visited. Run by a (very pleasant) Asian family, the aisles are so narrow you have to walk sideways, and, the products are stacked on racks almost up to the ceiling, but, they do appear to stock everything!

Whilst Kathleen is occupied in church, I walk to what Google tells me is another supermarket,

just out of curiosity. It turns out to be another "corner shop" sized emporium.

By lunch time, we have full "summer style" sun, and 20c. We spend the afternoon lazying in the sun, drinking wine and reading.

We are also visited by the lady site owner, who is doing her rounds ensuring everyone is happy with the place.

She is very pleasant, but, boy can she talk. If only I could remember all of the "useful" information she told me. I am sure she must be the mother of the young lady who was here yesterday, to book us in.

Monday 8th May 2023

Rain early in the morning, before it was time to get up, then 13c, rising to 16c supposedly, and cloudy. To be expected I suppose, since today is a Bank Holiday (for the Coronation of Charles III.

During the Covid Pandemic, lockdown etc, I began doing various "challenges' to ease the boredom of lockdown. One challenge was to collect a photograph of my bicycle, in front of a sign (street name, church or school) of a Saint's name, in alphabetical order (eg St Aiden, St Benedict, etc etc).

When lockdown ended, I continued, to collect the names, much to Kathleen's irritation, just for fun. I had ground to a halt at "K". 

While browsing the internet, I noticed there was a church called St Kyneburga, at a place called Castor, approximately 10 miles away. A quick check of my local Sustrans Map showed that it was quite possible to cycle there on cycle routes (mostly NCN21).

Accordingly, I suggested a cycle ride to Kathleen, without mentioning the detail of the Church name, or, how far it was.

To be honest, it is not a very pleasant day, a stiff breeze, from the South West, so, almost a head-wind most of the way there, plus, solid cloud cover, with showers forecast.

We follow quiet roads, via Deeping St James, Deeping gate, Northborough, then, a busy bit, crossing the A15, before Northborough, Etton.

Shortly after Eaton, there is a novel situation where we must cross the main East Coast railway line (Edinburgh - London). There is a bell to ring, after a short

while, a very friendly, pleasant chap emerges from his little hut, and opens the gate to allow you across the line, provided of course, there is no train due!.

Then, to Marholm, where we pause for a rest, and, I break the news there are "only" about 4 miles to go, to Castor.

We do get slightly wet in a couple of showers.

Church of St Kyneburgha located, photograph taken. It is rather disappointing, having come all this way, that there is no Church Name

board, so, the name, engraved on the entrance gate must suffice.

Lunch in the nearby Royal Oak, Castor, to placate Kathleen, to be fair, she has been a little gem, hardly a word of complaint, even when it rained.

Then, back the way we had come. just over 20 miles in total.