Day 351
Peldon to Maldon
I left Peldon and negotiated a fairly busy road round to the shore near Tollesbury from where I followed the sea defence round to Maldon. We had a rain shower and there was a welcome breeze throughout the day. Last day of this leg of the walk. Back to London tomorow for a few days. The next leg will be the last stage of the walk where I will return to Brighton Pier and cross the finish line on Saturday 7th September 2013!

Day 350
Clacton on Sea to Peldon
A sunny day with a welcome breeze. I followed the path along the coast from Clacton round the shore but was cut off by a high fence and there was no way round the end of it because of the thick mud so I had to retrace my steps and find a way round inland. At one point I found myself in a water treatment works via a faulty 'locked' gate but couldn't get out the other side! Just opposite Brightlingsea at Stone Point there is a small ferry that runs across to Mersea Island. After a bit of confusion from a 'local' who said it wasn't running I telephoned the ferry and at that precise moment it was pulling up near me along the shore and so I hopped on! Perfect timing! 

I then followed quite a busy lane across the island and then crossed the Strood Channel where there were a lot of jet-skis. Then up the road to lovely Peldon Rose pub for the night.

Rest Day!

I walked up to the Pier at Walton on the Naze and met Margaret Andrews and her son William. Margaret is the support services manager for the Clacton office of Alzheimer's Society and William is a member of the lifeboat shore crew at Walton. Together we walked to Frinton on Sea where they left me and I would meet up with Margaret further down the coast that day in Holland on Sea. There I was met by a wonderful 'reception committee' outside a beach hut owned by a gentleman called Terry. Terry is a supporter of the local branch of Alzheimer's Society and they were all there to greet me along with a banner and balloons. It really was a special occasion. We had tea and cakes and a tour of Terry's hut which was fitted with a kitchen! Afterwards I only had to walk a few hundred metres more to reach Clacton on Sea where I checked into a B&B and promptly fell asleep for a couple of hours!

Heavy rain at 6.30 this morning! Then sunshine for the rest of the day. I took the first ferry across the River Deben where I met a guy who is planning to cycle from Britain to Australia next year who I bumped into a couple more times during the day as we were both taking the same ferries. I walked through Felixstowe following a promenade and admired the huge port operations. Then I took a ferry across to Harwich leaving Suffolk and entering Essex, and made my way round to Walton-on-the-Naze.

Day 347
Aldeburgh to Bawdsey
I packed up and left Ian and Susan's home in Aldeburgh and was sad to leave!. Ian accompanied me across the local golf course to help me on my way. I followed a lovely path through woodland and marshes to Snape Maltings and then along paths, roads and dusty tracks towards Bawdsey. I passed quite a few pig farms. They are lovely animals!  I had a lovely lunch at The Froize Pub in Chillesford donated by its owner, David Grimwood. A lovely gesture. Thank you. In the late afternoon I reached Bawdsey Quay where I sat and watched the world go by for half an an hour. The owner of the B&B drove me over to a nice pub later that evening and collected me too!

Day 346
Dunwich to Aldeburgh
Ian gave me a lift back to Dunwich this morning. It was overcast and very muggy. I started off along the shingle beach but made my way up onto a firmer path along the cliff which was easier to walk on. A heavy rain shower came through at one point but it soon dried up again. I passed Sizewell 'A' and 'B' nuclear power stations and then stopped for lunch at the tea room by the mere at Thorpness where a few people made donations. From there I headed on to Ian and Susan's house for a couple of hours via marshland infested with mosquitos. I had four of them attached to me at one point all drinking my blood. After a couple of hours of online administration I was back on the beach to walk the last mile or so to the Cross Keys Pub in Aldeburgh where I was greeted by the Lady Mayor of Aldeburgh, Sara Fox and a few other supporters who all made generous donations, and I enjoyed a pint!

Day 345
Lowestoft to Dunwich
I was dropped off back in Lowestoft. It was a hot day and with a little breeze. Along the beach past Kessingland and onto a pub for lunch in Southwold. This is the life! Then a free rowing boat ferry ride across the River Blyth  to Walberswick and on down to Dunwich where Ian collected me.

Today was a rest day.

Day 344
Winterton on Sea to Lowestoft
Much cooler today and with a little bit of drizzle. I met up with an Alzheimer's Society supporter called Sally, her mother Thelma who has Alzheimer's and her step-father Maurice. They bought me lunch in the centre of Great Yarmouth and we all had a wonderful time. The onwards to Lowestoft wher I was collected in the evening by my brother-in-law, Ian.