Writing this a few days after the walk, it seems strange to be planning the final leg of the walk. On the one hand, having done 3 walks in the last 5 weeks means that we'll definitely have the whole thing done in one year, but on the other hand, I will miss have the challenge and writing this blog. I'm trying my hardest not to look back at the first legs and the attached photos to see just how much Jake has changed and grown since January. I will, however, be able to work out whether, with the combination of Jake's weight gain and my weight loss since January, our total weight has increased or decreased.
After the glory of leg 10, we were unsure whether the next leg would reach the same heights and whilst the weather was a little more overcast, the walk itself was another belter. When we talk about doing the walk in 2 days next year, we always talk about where we want to start and finish. Assuming that the final leg will also be a good looker, we've decided that we'll end it with the run of legs in north Leeds to give us some good scenery to cheer us on.
So onto the walk. The first part, round some playing fields in Thonrbury, was massively overgrown and unpassable, a fact that we discovered very quickly, but not quick enough to avoid being stung by lots of nettles. My legs have only stopped stinging a day or so ago! Fortunately, the route quickly dives into woodland again, prompting even more autumn woodland photos from Matt.
We then got a little lost, but with the help of Walk Bot (aka Matt's phone) we safely navigated a golf course and down a metalled road by a disused quarry. This was only a short bit, but did cost leg 11 top place in my favourite walks of the route. However, once past the Lodge, the Way picks up the West Country Park again and makes it way through Ravenscliffe Wood alongside another stream and through further woods and parkland into the top end of Calverley. It was another fun surprise to pop out onto the A657, my wife's main route to work, and realise I knew exactly where I was. It made me think of the time when we found the A64, and it put the size of the walk into perspective.
The path drops down immediately on the other side of the road and into some deep wood next to a babbling brook. The moss was deep and thick (or at least in my head it was!) and as we meandered through, we came across numerous dog walkers making me think that I need to take my wife onto this part of the walk. As the route turned uphill, we found a field with some pretty views to stop for a coffee and a snack.
Very quickly, the route turns into a climb then turns left onto a wide bridleway including my favourite sign so far:
We then came out at Apperley Bridge and after nagivating some sports fields we picked up the river Aire, much narrower but much quicker than when we last saw it in Swillington. Again, seeing it in different locations gave us some more feeling for the scope of the size of Leeds, something that you can't really get by driving or flying over it. The sun came back out at this point, and for a mile or so the route runs close by the river along what felt like a towpath. We also came across what is actually THE house of the route so far. The grounds were so big that we only saw glimpses of the house across the five a side football pitch sized garden, complete with several dozen square feet of solar panels.
The final stage of the walk is a climb through thick woodland, along muddy paths and private land (including bollards controlled by keypads!) and out onto the A65, less than 5 minutes from home and with the very real prospect of only 1 walk left to complete the loop.
Total distance = 5.5 miles
Total time = 2.5 hours
Cumulative distance = 56 miles
Cumulative time = 27 hours 30 mins
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