Walking

Normally with the Walking Group, I, Diane, go alone to reconnoitre the route for the group so that they can enjoy their morning without any dramas.   However, during lockdown with only a group of six permitted, I do these walks with ‘guinea pigs’ so that I can accommodate more of the walking group members.  This was our first of two walks starting at Battlesbridge – both unfortunately entirely unsuitable for walking again.  Mo, one of my ‘guinea pigs’, has given her report and I have joined in with my pennyworth.  She explains that:

“six brave walkers met at Battlebridge Antique Centre – brave as it was very hot, hot, hot!  We all met up with Diane our very patient, happy guide. Why patient? Most of you haven’t met us; those that have will know what I am talking about: getting lost springs to mind.  Hats on, sunscreen on, water in our rucksacks and off we go”

We were fortunate to find that the road we were to follow at the start of our walk, was closed to traffic; we had it all to ourselves and could chat away happily.  Mo continues:

“for the first half-hour or so, a certain person (who shall be nameless) gave us a history lesson, then a geography lesson, and even talked about his jam setting so hard it was like bricks.  We suggested he join the W.I. bless him, have you rectified your jam dilemma Tim (whoops) sorry.  Anyway, back to the serious business, our walk. On our right we saw a beautiful big house with a pond in the front garden with geese swimming in it (great guard dogs, maybe).  We waited for a tractor 🚜 to pass on our side of the road as he had to stop for oncoming traffic: not a car but a horse and rider. This prompted a conversation regarding nursery rhymes and we were all trying to recite “Ride a Cock Horse 🐴”, we got there in the end.  We are a strange but happy band of six”. 

 Later we were able to find out the story behind the nursery rhyme.  Apparently, it relates to Queen Elizabeth 1 who travelled to Banbury to see a huge stone cross on a hilltop.  To help the carriages climb the hill a white cock horse (large stallion) was made available to help.  The Queen’s carriage suffered a broken wheel and she decided to ride up to the top on the cockhorse.

“Diane guided us across the road to a farm, with map at the ready clearly showing a footpath, she started to look for it, couldn’t find it, and asked the lady farmer where we should go.  Whilst she was having a conversation with her, we were looking at all the old buildings, in particular a beautiful derelict barn with wonderful old beams and wood.

Diane still had her map at the ready, and following the directions from the farmer 👨‍🌾 we walked, and walked, and walked.   Poor Diane and her helpers couldn’t find any footpath signs or any sign of a footpath.  Everywhere we looked were ditches and what appeared to be footpaths, overgrown and not trodden.  We carried on walking around the fields of combined crops, hay/wheat/corn, in scorching heat just not getting anywhere. We decided to stop under a welcome 🙏 tree 🌳 for shade and had some water and snacks, “don’t eat and drink it all, we may be here all night”, my imagination running riot.  After our scrumptious feast we carried on when suddenly there was a shout “get off my land or I will shoot “, a farmer with the biggest gun and huge dog 🐕 standing his ground – sorry watched too many films – it went like this, a chap called out “excuse me, but you are on private land”, Diane explains we are lost and can’t find the footpaths anywhere.  He suggests we go back the way we came “No”, with no provisions left where’s Bear Grylls when you need him?  Our prayers are answered, not Bear Grylls but a tractor 🚜”. 

 Out of politeness rather than ignorance,

“Diane asked the friendly driver the way to go home – a song here?  He described the way out for us, back through the farm and to the tarmac road; we all fell to our knees and kissed it ahhhhhhh burnt lips 👄 now, only joking, we are saved “yahoo”.  On our walk back to our cars we had a real “Yahoo!” from some young men driving past, of course, we waved.

 Quite an uneventful walk back except Joy was attacked by a Lavatera bush, she used her stick to push a branch out of the way and it grabbed her – scary stuff.😲. 

 We made it back to our cars six very hot melting bodies.  Our adventure didn’t stop there, two of us found the sign to exit the Antique Centre only to end up on a campsite – WHY US?  We turned around and found our way out.  Another of our walkers took the wrong turning out of a roundabout never to be heard of since.  I think she’s still going round.

 Thank you, Diane, for getting us out in one piece looking forward to our next walk”.

 

Maureen Rae (with additions from Diane) 

 

 

The next walk, same group (minus one), same starting point, threw up different challenges.

 

 

 

Walking the week before with ‘the guinea pigs’ I was able to iron out the faults for the same walk the following week with a different group of walkers.  This time we started down by the river, walked in a northerly direction and eliminated the horrid noisy road section; it also shortened the walk by 1.5kms bringing it in-line with our usual walking distance of 8kms.  Joy has set the scene and described it wonderfully and there is little else I can add.  We too had beautiful weather.  The incoming tide was low when we arrived and as we walked beside Fen Creek the waters followed us along pushing the black-headed gulls away from there feeding ground.  A small flock of Canada Geese glided peacefully along.

Woodham Fen, 37 acres in total, is an interesting area and the southern part of the Fen, the Saltings and Scrapes is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.  It is a saltmarsh land that is one of the oldest and unchanged saltmarshes in the country.  The area changes from saltmarsh, to upper saltmarsh and then to grassland thus benefiting many different types of plants and habitats.  Small bogs and lagoons are present making the terrain very difficult to walk over but we kept to well-trodden paths through the grassland although one footpath marker did point the way across the saltings and into the creek!

By the time we ended the walk the tide was well up, the large flock of swans had split in two with some remaining on the south side of the river, including the black swan, but many had congregated around the slip near the car park and were being fed by enthusiastic youngsters; a sole dinghy was being wheeled down the slip to be launched. Ending the morning the group sat with their picnics enjoying this typical English riverside scene on a typical sunny summer’s day.

Diane Caulkett

This was a linear socially distanced walk. Six of us set out from Sainsbury’s car park (South Woodham Ferrers) – a slight change from our usual parking spots (pub, garden centre etc). The weather was kind – not too hot not too cold and no rain. On leaving the car park we had to cross the busy B1012 road and then walk down a road which passed the Whalebone pub and a minute building which turned out to be a barber’s shop. Having turned into a greener wooded area we found ourselves confronted by quite a deep ditch – no water in it thankfully. The more agile amongst us leapt across with (apparently) no difficulty. Those with shorter legs walked down into the ditch and then had some difficulty in climbing back up the steep bank. Socially distanced assistance was available where it was needed.

We soon crossed the railway line and found we had come to Woodham Fen, a lovely area of rough grassland. I don’t think any of us had been there before. The path was lined with blackberry (bramble) bushes in flower and by purple thistles. Colonies of hedge brown butterflies were flying around the bramble bushes. Judging by the number of flowers there will be a good crop of blackberries this year. Thistle flowers were proving an attraction for various insects. A marbled white butterfly was also spotted in this area.

We then came to an area of saltmarsh and our path took us beside a creek which was to eventually lead into the River Crouch. It was low tide so there was rather a lot of mud exposed. The snowy white plumage of a little egret contrasted with the mud. It was pointed out that there was samphire growing by the creek.

Amongst the green hedges and bushes, two or three skeleton trees stood out starkly. This was considered to provide a good photo opportunity, not quite as straightforward as it may sound to take a socially distanced photo on a fairly narrow path! We found we were walking behind houses many of which had gates at the bottom of their gardens giving instant access to the footpath and the creek. Our attention was caught by a tree with a small brick construction at its base. We spent a moment or two discussing the possible purpose of the bricks but we came up with no really plausible answer. A little further along stood a brick pillar, we decided that it was once a gatepost (there appeared to be the remains of a hinge attached) but there was no sign of the other gatepost.

We eventually spotted a group of houses ahead, one of our group suggested that it might be Hullbridge. Sure enough, the creek shortly led into the river Crouch when we could see that the houses were indeed on the opposite of the river. South Woodham Sailing Club came into view. We took advantage of the benches on the bank to sit and take a socially distanced break and some refreshment whilst admiring the resident swans, it was interesting to see that a black swan had joined the large group.

It was time to return so we walked past the entrance to Marsh Farm and roughly retraced our steps, there were one or two minor deviations one of which avoided the need to cross the ditch! We returned to our cars having had a thoroughly enjoyable morning.

 

Joy White

 

 

This was our first walk after lockdown and following Government guidance we had to limit the numbers to a total of six.  In the event we were to be only 5. Social distancing is not hard when walking but talking with social distancing presented some problems and messages had to be relayed from the front to the back of the line; this made the walk far less social than normal but all the same most enjoyable.

Without the restriction of meeting in a pub we were able to meet in a location that normally I wouldn’t choose.  So, starting from the car park in Bicknacre we set off across the so-called Priory Fields where a playing field led on to grassland with mowed paths – and immediately went the wrong way (I had previously warned everyone that I hadn’t walked the route as I usually do so anything could happen, actually only two things did happen, this error in navigation and later confusion amongst the houses in a housing estate thus resulting in a slightly longer walk than planned).

There was a hermitage on the Priory Fields until around the end of 1154 when it was converted into a priory for the Black Canons, an order of Augustinian Canons.  It was known as Wodeham Priory until 1235 when the name Bicknacre first occurs.  The navigational error did give us a glimpse through a hedge of Priory Arch which is all that remains of the 12th century Bicknacre Priory. It comprises the west arch of the crossing of the church with attached fragments of the nave and north transept.   We had intended to take a closer look on our return but for some reason didn’t.

We left the ‘fields’ in the north-west corner reaching a quiet country lane.  On our left was St Giles Churchyard, a quaint and slightly overgrown churchyard with a small church at the far end.   It is rumoured that the church is haunted by a man buried in the graveyard. His name remains unknown.

On the right-hand side is the site of the St Giles Home for British Lepers, which no longer exists, but I am told the current buildings are now used for people with learning difficulties.

Turning onto footpaths and bridleways our route led through Meads Grove, a delightful wood where we were warned to keep on the track for fear of being hit by arrows in the archery practice areas.  The shade of trees was most welcome as by now the day was heating rapidly.  This area is sparsely populated and we saw no other walkers and even when we emerged at East Hanningfield, the village was almost deserted.  We joined the St Peter’s Way here and on clearly marked tracks and paths, over fields and through farms, crossed Bicknacre Common and reached the end of the walk.

We all agreed that although it wasn’t quite the same as walking with a larger group it was nonetheless worthwhile just to make contact again with friends.

Diane Caulkett

Eileen: I had a great walk just roaming the back fields of Southminster, meandering the footpaths to avoid the odd dog walkers in the distance. As you say, a beautiful day to walk out with field spurting vibrant green.
Linda B: Yes you did have a beautiful day for the walk. Am sure you enjoyed it and put the world to rights……..if only!
I was enjoying ‘ essential shopping’. Such fun, but the other shoppers were all very aware of the space around them. So all good.
Perhaps we ought to have an Open Gardens day when this is over, although I need to get going on mine.

Valerie: I have been walking each day on my own as recommended. All along the foreshore.
I have my static bike in the sun lounge so I cycle and watch the river.

Not so bad while the sun shines!

Jo took this as I was passing the House boat this morning on my” government approved 1 outdoor exercise per day”. It was beautiful and I was virtually alone!

I hope you are all coping and keeping well. 😷👍🍷

Mo & Dave: we have been walking as usual with our dog along the river she has been swimming mad dog. Just have to make the most of beautiful weather

Frances: Colin and I did the same route this afternoon with me commenting about how muddy it was in December. It was a lovely sunny day then as well.

Owen: Thought I let you you know about my little walk along the West Highland Way. Your book and map were very helpful but nothing really prepares you until start walking. the first seven miles were pleasant going through country parks on good level paths and the weather was holding up. the first real test was towards the last three hours, walking up and down Conic Hill in a storm. Fortunately my new jacket proved money well spent but my waterproof trousers plus the other trekkers gear failed and we arrived at our first overnight spot with waterlogged boots. Hairdriers to the rescue.
We completed the next four days through all the weather systems ranging from bright spring sunshine (only or a few hours) to more heavy rain with sprinkling of sleet and snow. We manged the whole 96 miles except the Devils Staircase on day 4 as it was raining very hard with low cloud and visibility (this section needed good visibility otherwise go get lost along Rannock Moor.
There were several diversions due to collapsed bridges and one fallen tree proved difficult and took about 20 minutes to get over and under and over again. It was a great challenge glad to have done it. We were very lucky with the timing as Pubs/ overnight stops were closing fast. My flight home was cancelled but managed to get another.

Jacqui: I am trying to go for a walk with Viv in the mornings as we walk the dogs – 2mts apart, but at least it is company for her and someone for her to talk to who has unfortunately been through the same. It is good that we are still able to do this as I think Viv would go crazy without.
(For those of you who don’t know Bob had a very serious stroke and has been hospitalised for at least two weeks – it is serious and of course Viv can’t visit. I have sent Viv the group’s best wishes)
Joy: Paul and I had a walk down to the river and along the seawall for a little way. We had said this morning that it would have been a lovely day for our U3A walk. Hope it won’t be too long before we can start up again. When I’ve done something exciting I will write to the whole group !!
Sue & Tony: Tony and I have done about 3 miles around Southminster most days. Initially just around the roads but as things have dried up we’ve been heading across footpaths. I am so glad we haven’t been stopped from doing that – yet! It’s strange how the little things cheer you up – my highlight today was finding a box full of chocolate cake in the freezer plus I actually baked some biscuits! Keep safe and I am sure all walkers are looking forward to the time when we can walk together again

Linda McL: I’ve spent the last two days digging and weeding but I’m taking my time as I have quite a few days to fill. Also I don’t want to go mad and then not be able to move

From Heybridge Basin we pushed into the strong, cold wind coming from a westerly direction.  It was a glorious morning to be out and the 22 of us took in the delights of the River Blackwater at low water.  Numerous birds fed on the mudflats and keen birders amongst us notched up a count of many species.  The sun shone and Maldon looked as picturesque as it does on postcards taken at prime time.

It was a little slippery underfoot after the recent rainfall but we all kept together reaching Heybridge by means of ‘the pretty route’, that is walking behind the industrial estate and emerging through a used car sales forecourt.  When we reached the canal bridge four people left the group to do a shorter walk and returned via the canal path.  The rest of us were later to do that but at this point extended our walk by passing through a housing estate on footpaths and joining the Blackwater Rail Trail for a short stretch (we plan to walk the whole 8 mile stretch in the future).   Between this trail and the canal are fields and several lakes which also had plenty of birdlife on them.

Pausing for a group photo beside the Oak Meadow play area we then joined the canal and walked briskly back to Heybridge Basin.

Lining the eastern section of the path old men sat at intervals, dipping their long fishing rods into the water.  Beside them, ghastly red coloured maggots wriggled in tubs of bran (according to a programme I heard recently on the radio I was amazed to learn that we and maggots have similar sensory organs).  The fish were not to be seen (or caught) and being a competition was a bit of a disappointment for those taking part.  One man had caught one fish and seemed to be the winner so far; another had done the same but his fish wasn’t the right kind for this competition.

The Jolly Sailor sat us in the backroom and very quickly our pre-ordered food arrived and for the first time that day, silence fell.

Diane Caulkett