Walking

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

Our first walk for 2020 was from a new dining location, Bunsay Downs Golf Club, and partially, a new stretch of footpaths.  It was a walk that brought its challenges in various ways.

I had warned of mud well before the previous day’s rain and was surprised to find so many walkers prepared to splosh through the puddles and mud ahead.

We were counted out, 27 of us, and set off up the road climbing steadily – I felt like the Duke of York with this number behind me and sure enough, like him, I led them to the top of the hill and marched them down again.  Our first stile of the day marked the top of this hill and has a fairly high step.  Mo quite often finds stiles challenging but with pulls and pushes we got her halfway over when, with such perfect timing, the property owner appeared and suggested we walk through her gate instead, which we did; this caused some hilarity – Mo joined in our laughter.

A series of paddocks led us down to a road.  At that point our intended walk was to have continued down through fields to a footpath running close to the canal, but when I walked it a week before I decided the mud was too deep, and so instead we took another route along a stretch of country lane.  It was a pleasant stretch with fine houses and no traffic.  Then we turned to descend on a track to the point where our original walk would have joined it.  It was at the bottom of the track we realised a section of the group was missing.  Fearing there may be a problem and leaving the majority of the group stranded in a field it was back up the hill to locate the absent group – no disaster, – they hadn’t seen us turn off!!!.  One group member returned to the waiting majority and led them on whilst I took the ‘missing party’ on a shorter route and we regrouped a short while later.

We were not amused!

Over a stile and through a muddy wood, some fields and more woodland that undulated and twisted we eventually reached a house where the footpath went over their front garden.  A quick headcount – we were not 27, so back along the track to find the others (more or less the exact same group) who were some way back – this time they had sensibly stopped for a minor medical reason.

Reaching a road, it was suggested that those ‘struggling’ should return via the road and the rest stride on through more fields and woods, mud and undulations.

We all arrived back at more or less the same time and as luck would have it only about 10-minutes later than planned.

Diane Caulkett

Sunshine – In the November 2019 issue of the U3A Magazine Jill wrote an informed article about the lectures she had listened to at the Royal Institution arranged for the U3A – one of the subjects was ‘Sunshine’. When natural sunlight hits the skin it triggers the body’s production of vitamin D and so gets its name, “the sunshine vitamin.” This vitamin is a crucial ingredient for overall health and it is advised to get at least 10-15 minutes of sunlight daily. Among the many benefits, including aiding depression and boosting the immune system, adding a little sunshine to your life can even promote weight loss. The message is clear – even (or especially) in the depths of winter, wrap up warm and get outside – and this is what 14 members of the Walking Group did on the Monday between Christmas and New Year. Not only was it good to meet and chat again but the added bonus was an abundance of ‘sunshine’.

It was a local walk starting from the clock tower and heading east through the fields of Wick Farm. It is always a pleasure to walk through this farm as not only is it well maintained, but also birdlife is encouraged and abounds. Those of us interested were delighted to see large flocks of smaller birds feasting on the seeds and other larger birds picking berries from the bushes as well as raptors, geese and other water birds. We later met the farm owner, a very keen bird watcher, who had just witnessed a peregrine falcon dive down and take a Dunlin.

Being a leisurely walk, with no hills and no chance of losing anyone, there was plenty of time to chat to all the group members and with the sunshine all were in a good mood and pleased to be out stretching their legs after their recent celebrations.

We passed the solar panels, which have blended into the countryside really well. Around the farm are informative panels and the one about the solar panels informs us that in 2018 it provided enough electricity for half of the households in Burnham for a year (around 1900 at that time!).

We returned to Burnham along the seawall and those with cameras were kept occupied taking photos of the sunlit scene.
We ended our walk in the Bistro on the Quay (formerly Quayside) and although we hadn’t pre-ordered our food it was served in good time and enthusiastically devoured. The sunshine had obviously worked its charm as the good mood continued but even if it did help with weight loss the good work was soon undone.

Next Walk: Tuesday 28th January Meet for 10.00 at Bunsay Downs Golf Club, Woodham Walter CM9 6RU

Diane Caulkett

Having got permission to park in their car park this walk started from St Bartholomew’s Church, Wickham Bishops. It was a large group of 21 walkers that set off on this fine morning firstly along a quiet country lane and then through footpaths and woodland to a golf course. The golfers waited for us patiently as we walked past and we exchanged pleasantries with them. The route through the golf course follows beside a narrow stretch of the River Blackwater where water birds hid amongst the vegetation.

Leaving the golf course we crossed under a bridge, a scheduled ancient monument that formerly carried the Maldon to Witham Railway Line that operated from 1846 to 1964. This bridge is a rare example of a wooden trestle viaduct, is of national importance, and apparently it is the last surviving example of this type of structure within England.

A short distance away in a bend of the River Blackwater is the site of the original village, Wickham, which was situated close to mills (now gone) and of which the remote St Peter’s Church was an important part of the community. Built in the 11th century the church is now redundant as a church and is cared for by the Friends of Friendless Churches; in 1977 it won an award for its restoration. We were able to look at the exterior but the door was padlocked.

We passed many fine period houses and also new builds of immense proportions. Orchards used to extend widely in this area but today few remain but we did pass through a small remaining patch of old gnarled trees.

Nearing the last section of the walk we dropped down on a footpath that circuited pasture. It then led uphill through private woodland where recently fallen leaves littered the ground and with satisfaction we could shuffle through kicking the leaves aside in childish fashion. As we neared the end of the walk drizzle started to fall and soon turned to rain – how lucky we were to end this delightful walk with a good lunch in the Green Man, Little Braxted where fires burning in the lounges welcomed us.

Diane Caulkett

What a change from last month – the sun shone, it was warm and calm and this month there were 16 happy faces to greet me.  There was a slight delay at the pub but eventually we were on our way.

After a short road stretch we turned onto fields passing allotments where fascinating round raised beds were one of the charms of this well-tended facility.  The fields were empty of people and it was glorious striding along the grassy paths, a slight mist hanging in the distance and the sounds of chatter from the group.  We soon reached farm fields where sheep grazed and the nearby lakes, with their placid water, looked at their best in the morning light; the intermittent noise of ducks and other water birds drifted across to us.  We had to watch our step on this section as the rabbits and badgers had been active and this hazard was compounded by loose wire from a fallen fence.

After the recent rain we thought the fields would be horrendously muddy but we were pleasantly surprised how well the ground had drained.

Eventually we came down into Ulting (location of the first sugar beet factory in England!), and having made good time were able to detour to look at the canal-side church.  This church, All Saints, has been standing since 1150 and had a major restoration in the 1870s.  According to Wikipedia it was once a place of pilgrimage ranking with Walsingham and other famous shrines.

Having descended throughout the morning we were now taking the gentle ascent back to Hatfield Peverel.  Our route followed the River Ter that wound its way gradually north.  Huge willows lined the banks and the river created a ford on the lane leading from Nounsley.  A lively spaniel raced to the water, splashed around, ran back to its owner and then came back again to do the same.

Almost back at the Wheatsheaf we (well, most of us, some weren’t keeping an eye out and missed the turnoff) passed by the site of a priory founded by the Saxon Ingelrica (reputed to be the mistress of William the Conqueror).  The standing Parish Church of St Andrew that we also passed is said to be the surviving fragment of the Norman priory church nave.

We arrived back at the pub just a few minutes late but before we had finished ordering drinks the delicious food was arriving.  Accolades from the group about the quality of the food were numerous (‘the best meal we have had as a walking group’, ‘best fish and chips ever’, ‘best liver and bacon’ – only Bob seemed disappointed and said his pie wasn’t as good as those that Viv cooks (maximum ‘brownie’ points, Bob) – and we weren’t going to contradict him).

5.35 miles/9kms

Diane Caulkett