Jeri’s Steps: 15,638
Miles walked: 7.5
Elevation: 350
Pints: Two Cobras
Churches: none
Stiles: 12
Benches: 1

Last night we stayed in Meriden, historically thought to be the geographical center of England until some people at the Ordnance Survey did some clever maths. This morning an Uber took us to our jumping off point; the Bubble Inn at Furnace End where we soon joined the Centenary Way. This long distance path was created in 1989 to celebrate 100 years of Warwickshire County Council. I guess even local governments get to have birthdays. The landscape was similar to yesterday but although the signage was generally good, the state of the path left something to be desired; in many places it was evident the path is not well used as we trudged through thick vegetation. In one field we had to skirt the perimeter completely because the farmer had failed to make a way through the thick crop of rapeseed. Needless to say benches were rare, but overall it was a lovely walk with good weather, an abundance of bird song and many very old oak trees. At one point we startled a large hawk which bolted out of a huge stand of oak and beech which resembled the forest of Fangorn. Near Atherstone we walked across the village green as a bus turned up, just as if we’d planned it. After a short train ride we arrived in Tamworth, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. A cup of tea beckoned.