Rest day. My old friend Roger came over to see me. He lives on Canvey Island. I haven't seen him in over 20 years. It was great to catch up!
Day 355 Southend-on-Sea to Horndon-on-the-Hill I left Southend and followed the coast round past Canvey Island. I met a guy called 'Mark Pinnock' who is a 'Seven Summiteer'. We had an interesting chat and we plan to meet up in London after the walk so I can interview him as one of my 'Characters On The Coastline'. That afternoon I pushed on along a 'closed footpath' due to overhead powerline work but the site was closed and frankly there was absolutely no hazzard. At the far end I had to fight my through bushes and over stream as they had blocked off the entrance to the path. Stayed the night in 'Hordon-on-the-Hill'. Day 354 Burnham-on-Crouch to Southend-on-Sea After breakfastI took a ferry across the River Crouch to Wallesea Island and followed paths across to Rochford. Then eastwards again through 1,000's of acres of crops and turned south to Shoeburyness where I arrived at the entrance of the Thames Estuary. From there I followed the cycle route onto Southend. A warm and muggy day. Managed to keep my feet from getting blisters. Great to have reached the River Thames. Day 353 Bradwell-on-Sea to Burnham-on-Crouch This morning I had a nice long chat with my host Carole who's husband is a well know angling tours operator called John Rawl. After breakfast I walked into Bradwell-on-Sea and was donated lunch by a lady called Robyn who runs the local Post Office convenience store which is very much the hub of the local community. Then I rejoined the coast at the power stations and spent the rest of the day on or next to the sea dykes curving my way round to Burnham-on-Crouch. I saw three adders in the space of 15 minutes and a sloworm. Hot day. My feet are sore and strapped up. Day 352 Maldon to Bradwell-on-Sea At 10.00 am I was met by Karen Williams and a few supporters from Alzheimer's Society and we walked as a group through Maldon to the shore and through the old docks. It was lovely to have their company and support. Later on in the day I was joined by two young lads who were very interetsed in what I was dong. One of them was an aspiring footballer and is attending the Chelsea Academy. I stayed the night in Bradwell on Sea. 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. |
Archives 2013
September 2013
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