~{nilheadimage~=142505~}
The ~{purplepost~=1331~;text~=previous post~;target~=kuching-newark~} detailed the mechanics of the journey. This one celebrates the lovely scenes en route.

I was surprised to find England looking so colourful. It's been a mild autumn, by all accounts, and there's still lots of stunningly coloured foliage on the trees.

First stop: Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

~{nilimage~=142555~;dir~=H~;alt~=black&white1~;caption~=Full of attractive buildings~}
~{nilimage~=142556~;dir~=H~;alt~=black&white2~}
~{nilimage~=142557~;dir~=H~;alt~=angelvaults~}
~{nilimage~=142558~;dir~=H~;alt~=stmary1~;caption~=~{link~= https://www.stmaryshitchin.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/7-History.pdf ~;text~=St Mary's, Hitchin~;target~=stmarys~}. The present church goes back back to the 14th/15th centuries, but there's been a place of worship on this site since 792...~}
~{nilimage~=142559~;dir~=V~;alt~=stmary2~}
~{nilimage~=142560~;dir~=H~;alt~=stmary3~}
~{nilimage~=142561~;dir~=V~;alt~=stmary4~}
~{nilimage~=142562~;dir~=H~;alt~=stmary5~}
We overnighted in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and went for a post-breakfast walk at the nearby Summer Leys Nature Reserve:

~{nilimage~=142504~;dir~=H~;alt~=summerleys~;caption~=A wonderfully autumnal place~}
~{nilimage~=142563~;dir~=H~;alt~=sunrise~;caption~=The first sunrise of the trip~}
~{nilimage~=142507~;dir~=H~;alt~=ducks1~;caption~=A watery world~}
~{nilimage~=142509~;dir~=H~;alt~=ducks2~}
~{nilimage~=142510~;dir~=H~;alt~=lake~}
~{nilimage~=142514~;dir~=H~;alt~=ducks3~}
~{nilimage~=142516~;dir~=H~;alt~=ducks4~}
~{nilimage~=142520~;dir~=H~;alt~=ducks5~}
~{nilimage~=142522~;dir~=H~;alt~=ducks6~}
~{nilimage~=142506~;dir~=H~;alt~=bull~;caption~=Other fauna and flora~}
~{nilimage~=142511~;dir~=H~;alt~=berries1~}
~{nilimage~=142512~;dir~=H~;alt~=berries2~}
~{nilimage~=142518~;dir~=H~;alt~=web~}
When I lived in the UK, I was never a fan of autumn. But maybe I'm changing my mind...