If I had to pick a 'best day in England', this would be it

My walk to Addington
Monday, April 30

In the play with Cate Blanchett, her character said ‘Amaaaazing’ over and over. That’s how I feel when I’m in Addington - amazed. This day was like... magic.

Sunday had been a much needed rest day so I didn't mind at all that it was raining. I had the best sleep of the trip last night and I slept in. It was a surprise to wake up to sunshine streaming through the windows. Good, because this was the day I’d be walking to Addington, rain or shine. Not long after Jeff left yesterday, there had been a problem with the internet connection. It came at a bad time because I had planned to look at a map and check out a walking path. I called a contact number he had left. His associate came over, had no luck getting my notebook connected but started up Jeff’s computer so I could use that, but by then I was ready to leave.

I headed off blind, just hoping to find my way.

Down the road from the town of Winslow a letter carrier drove up and stopped in a driveway. I asked for directions. He told me to continue along, pass under a bridge, etc. 'Er, you do know it’s some distance away, maybe three miles to Addington?' (I think it was just over two miles.)

It was so warm that I had to take off my jacket. At the bridge, two white doves appeared from nowhere, from behind the shrubbery on the right. I said aloud, 'You've got to be kidding.' They banked around me, and circled around and around sometimes opposite one another as if pivoting around an imaginary centre point. 'Hi Glenn. Hi Mom,' I said and I watched them circle diagonally ahead and left until they drifted out of sight. I was starting to get a very good feeling about the day.

At an intersection was a sign pointing to Addington. Whew, I'm on course. A plane flew over when I got there. Anyone who knows me understands that I connect Glenn with airplanes, so it gave me the feeling that he was watching over me.

Turn to the right and carry on. I seem to be out in the middle of nowhere.

I don't know where Verney Junction or this sign was. I may have turned around and looked at the sign behind me at the intersection.

It’s a good thing Jeff had taken me to the church before because there are no signs to indicate where it is. The road leading to it looks like a very long driveway. Fields with sheep were to the right and I could see the equestrian centre farther ahead on the left. I turned left down the long lane, not entirely sure I was going the right way. Eventually, I spied the church poking up through the trees.

It's odd now to make every decision for myself - to not run things by another person. I wondered if this day would feel worthwhile in the end. Was my late start for a reason? I was enjoying the scenery though, which was more beautiful than I’d expected, and the weather was perfect.

Sheep suit England - I always enjoyed seeing them. I'd smile at thinking back to Glenn's sheep imitation.

Now we're getting places. 'Addington Manor' it says on the gate posts. As small as this place is - 'a village which has averaged only 100 residents over the past 200 years,' according to one website - manors in Addington are still an area of confusion for me. The original Addington Manor was built in a different location and was demolished after 800 years or so. The 1st Baron of Addington and the 2nd Baron of Addington lived in the second house which was demolished after WW1, and now there is a third house. However, the equestrian centre, which is not in this immediate area, is called the Addington Manor Equestrian Centre.

 'Cross Bucks Way.'

 'North Bucks Way.' I can't believe I'm here in Buckinghamshire.

It had been raining!

There's the church.

 Later, I will go down this road at the back of a central green area.

Ahead, not far from the church is another large building - it was getting hard to tell one from another. A sign out front read: Park House, Addington Place, Addington Grange. I would knock on the front door later. Somewhere around here another plane flew over.

I'm nearing the church.