Day 12 Dunstable, Redbourn, St Albans, Frogmore

I would like to start by thanking Mr Michael Waggette and his wife, Penny for opening their doors and accommodating us last night.

Last night, Tafi, Emmanuel, Rev. Christopher Harrison (our co-ordinator yesterday and today) and I spent the night at Mr and Mrs Waggette’s house in Luton. I can’t find special words to thank them enough for their kindness. We all had a lovely, comfortable sleep last night.
This morning, we woke up at 4am because we wanted to start our walk at 5am from Markyate. As I came down the stairs this morning, I found that Mr and Mrs Waggette had prepared breakfast for us already and Rev. Christopher and Tafi were at the table already. I’ve never had such service as this in my life before! May God grant them peace and many more happy years to come.

We started our walk from Markyate at 5:20am. Sue told us about a short cut to Redbourn which goes through the small villages rather than along the A5. The road was fine but very hilly and bendy but the roads were quiet and much safer. We crossed the M1 through a tunnel to Redbourn.

Whilst walking through Redbourn, Emmanuel received a call from BBC Radio Three Counties who said they would like to interview him. They met us on the route to St. Albans and interviewed him while walking. The 4.2 mile footpath between Redbourn and St. Albans was very rough and there was lots of broken glass and dead tree branches along it.

It was at this point, half a mile from St. Albans Cathedral, that Emmanuel trod on a piece of glass and cut his foot. We had to stop to remove the glass using a small pair of scissors and then bandage his foot before continuing. Our aim today was to walk 12 miles but after Emmanuel’s foot injury we had to stop after 11½ miles. Despite this, we managed to reach Frogmore which was past St. Albans.
We visited St. Albans Cathedral today and met Arun Kataria, a Diocesan Communications Officer. He filmed and interviewed us. After finishing our walk, we visited the Sir John Lawes Secondary School in Harpenden. As we arrived, we were welcomed by seven students and their teacher Helen Gosnell who were waiting at the school gate without shoes! They led us into the school where we took some photos with some of the students. The school provided lunch and afterwards, we went to the hall and talked to many of the students. Again, Arun was there to film and take more pictures.

I told them about my traumatic experience as a child when I witnessed the killing of my school teachers back in Zimbabwe in 1983 and Emmanuel spoke about what happened to him in Cameroon. Each time we talk to people, I see it in their faces how moved they are to hear our stories.

Today was planned to be a rest day but we had decided to walk it, get ahead of schedule and have two days rest back in Derby. This was fortunate because Emmanuel had hurt his foot and needed to rest it.