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Mon Sept 15. Canterbury. 22.4 km.

Lovely walking today, nearly all through woodland or across fields. 

Again, small country churches, open to passers-by.  This one has a very old fireplace in its very old porch where medieval pilgrims could no doubt warm themselves on a wintry day.


This forest seemed to me the perfect habitat for Pooh, Tigger, Roo and Owl.


In the afternoon, apple orchards as far as the eye could see.


Where the fruit pickers live, on a very large farm.

 

Harbledown was the last stop for Chaucer’s pilgrims before Canterbury, but the Cook, who was supposed to start telling his story at that point, was too tired - or too drunk.  Pilgrims would have stopped here to take a drink from the holy well, whose waters were said to cure leprosy.  The Black Prince stopped here on his way to Canterbury, and was cured of an ailment. He again asked for the waters just before his death in 1376, but alas, they couldn’t cure syphilis.  The three feathers in stone are the Black Prince’s crest. Thomas Beckett came by and drank from here - apparently losing a shoe in the process, a shoe which became a precious relic after his death. Britain has well over 2,500 holy wells - many dating back to pre-Roman times. 


And then Canterbury, just in time for Evensong.




 






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