Travel
Prims Earth Trek continues
Here I am again , back for another update on my equatorlength walk around the world .
Last time I left you I ’ d just made it to Manchester , a city that certainly looks a look better than it did the last time I saw it in the 1990s . I used to work in Salford , when you needed a course of vaccinations and a stab-proof vest before you were allowed in . Now , it ’ s all shiny and modern .
From Manchester I left the urban sprawl behind and headed over the bleakly beautiful Pennines , passing through Penistone , where I had the biggest and best sausage and bacon sandwich in the world . It only cost £ 2.50 but could have fed a family of four for a week .
From the hills I dropped into Sheffield , passing both football grounds . After a few days camping wherever I
The best sausage and bacon bap in the world
could , I was lucky enough to be put in touch with Rob , a friend of a friend , who hosted me for a night . His Iranian wife cooked a great meal . It ’ s a pity British politics means that Iran isn ’ t an option for me on this trip .
A few days later I ’ d reached Nottingham , where I rewarded
Canals were going to be an important part of my life for the next few days . On and off I joined the Grand Union Canal during some glorious sunshine . Could this really be April in the UK ?
I steered towards Northampton with the offer of camping in someone ’ s back garden . Mark , who had read most of my books ( search “ Steven Primrose-Smith ” on Amazon if you ’ re interested ), invited me to stay . He fed and watered , well , wined me too .
I then got another invitation , this time to Milton Keynes . Emma , neither a friend nor a reader of my books , had just heard about my adventure
Steven and Emma , who kindly put him up in Milton Keynes
and wanted to help . She gave me a tour of the town , showing me its famous concrete elephants . We even reenacted a run-in I ’ d had with some real cows a few days earlier for one of my YouTube videos .
The final massive act of generosity occurred in pretty St Albans . I ’ d been due to meet Malcolm there to walk together for a while , but my timing was awful and he was away . Instead , he booked me into the local Premier Inn , where I had a proper bath . What a luxury for a homeless tramp like me !
The beautiful scenery of the Pennines
myself with a pint in Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem , a cave-like pub that claims to be the oldest in England . And I left the city through its majestic Wollaton Park , with its herds of freeroaming deer .
From there , after a short detour to lovely Lichfield , I headed to Birmingham . The city came as a surprise to me . It was one of the few British cities I ’ d never properly visited . I ’ ve whizzed past it in a car a million times , but this was my first time looking around its centre . It had some really funky buildings and its canals gave it a more European feel . Still , I wouldn ’ t want to go swimming in them .
I ’ d been worried that I might not be allowed into the hotel at all . On the way there my mapping app had sent me on a footpath that passed through a field of bright yellow rapeseed . The path hadn ’ t been maintained and was completely overgrown . Fighting my way through 500 metres of staining flowers took its toll . Out the other side I looked like I ’ d just been badly thrashed at Paintball .
And so now it ’ s on to London , Europe and the world !
If you ’ d like to know more about my world walk , or if you ’ d like to support it , you can visit my website - PrimsEarthTrek . com - which provides links to my Facebook group , YouTube channel as well as Instagram and Twitter .
You can even join me for a while . Come along !
STEVEN PRIMROSE-SMITH PrimsEarthTrek . com
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