MUD! A poem

On Saturday, myself, CBC, his brother WWKTTG and his partner M went for a walk.  We decided to do the stretch of The Essex Way between Ongar and Epping.  If you don't know, the Central Line, which terminates in the East at Epping (in Essex) is the red tube line in London.  It used to go onwards from Epping to Ongar (with intermediate station North Weald and Blake Hall).  It is a GREAT shame that it closed in 1994 as it would be very useful to have the option to join the central line from Ongar esp when there were all those engineering works where we lived.

If you wish to read about the history of it, read here- you can visit there and take a steam train ride at various times of the year.

Anyway, the walk is around 7.6miles and it doesn't follow the railway lines but it begins and ends in those towns.

It was an unfortunate time to attempt these walks after several wet months as there was squelchy, difficult-to-traverse mud at many, many moments in the walk. It was clay so very adhesive and sucked at our boots and unfortunately, at one point, I ended up with one foot in a freezing stream. Poor M was wearing trainers, not walking boots so he had a bit of a rough time of it!

As I walked, I was thinking with great animosity about the mud- I have even hurt my hip through slipping in it and walking at awkward angles.

All sorts of thoughts about mud went through my head as I trudged, slipped, squelched and wobbled and it put in mind a Simon Armitage poem called Kingfisher. So here is my Mud poem.

Mud

Mud:  sticky, slimy, squelchy.
Mud:  oppressive and demanding.
Mud: relentless, will not give up.
Mud: will take all forms of footwear,non discriminatory.
Mud: interminable and omnipresent.
Mud: just leave me alone!
Mud:  destroyer of paths and fields.
Mud: Get off my foot!
Mud:  "I will always be with you,"
Mud: just when you thought it was safe to tread...
Mud:  ....I BITE from beneath innocuous grass!
Mud: An FREE adventure park of slips and slides.
Mud:  Always keeps you guessing!
Mud:  The uninvited guest!
Mud:  Which path will you take? One leads to certain doom!
Mud: I am the Grim Seeper.
Mud:  You sap my energy.
Mud:  separates families.
Mud: The bog of eternal stench.
Mud.

Whitby wanderings - Goathland station

It may be May, but I am still taking mileage from my visit to the North Yorkshire Moors in February.

We were staying in the beautiful village of Goathland which is where the iconic TV series, Heartbeat,  was filmed.  Goathland also has a second claim to fame with its picturesque railway station which doubled for Hogsmeade Station in the Harry Potter films.  The North Yorkshire Moors railway is really worth a visit- riding on a Steam Engine is such a treat!

Alas, in February, when we went to visit, the railway was not open for rides but it did mean we could really explore the station without getting in the way or running the risk of getting hit by a train!
Outside the station was this pretty weir.

The station itself is formed of these large stones with red and cream detailing.

I was amused that after taking this picture...

I was standing on the railway line...

When I see these sights, it really makes me feel like an extra from The Railway Children and I do confess to embarrassing CBC by running down the platform saying, "My Daddy, oh, my Daddy!"

It does feel very odd standing on a railway track- it felt inherently wrong!

There goes my beloved Red Riding Hood

Despite it being out of season, there were quite a few people prowling around.  Having seen it in the Summer when it is heaving, I was very glad to be largely bereft of the great masses!

Not much to say, but much that is visual to admire!

Have you been to Goathland Station?

xx

Gallivanting along Lambley Viaduct and the South Tyne Trail

One of the first few times I went to stay in Northumberland, CBC introduced me to the South Tyne trail.  This is a 5 mile stretch from Haltwhistle to Lambley Viaduct that formed part of the old defunct Haltwhistle to Alston railway line.  It was originally built because in the 18th and 19th centirueies, the North Pennines were exploited for their lead, coal and limestone and thus transport links were needed. However, it was a vital link for local communities to travel and thus stations were built along the route.   Sadly, it was closed in 1976 and began to fall into disrepair although became a good route for walkers.



Excitingly, apparently a group of railway enthusiasts in a society of some sort are going to rebuild the line and run trains along it.  It must take an incredible amount of money to do such a thing.  Still, I hope it will still have a path near it so you can partake in this serene and easy walk all the way. I've walked the route a few times- in Summer, Winter and now Spring.





On Saturday, it was a rather sunny day so I suggested to CBC and WOMOTM (father-in-law) we take a walk there. WOMOTM hasn't been well, so we joined the route somewhat further, starting at the Car Park at Featherstone park station.

The carpark begins with a birdlike totem which it is obligatory to photograph.   The route is a very easy one so if you are a walker who likes the flat, this is the route for you. A path is very well marked.

Photo by WOMOTM

Along the way, the path is lined with trees, sprouting out of each other and the odd fungus growth.









Here and there are benches to enjoy the view and have a rest and the odd relic from the past.



You can see an old buffer for the sidings and the platform at the previous Conewood station. The station itself is now a house.  An old water pump can be seen and various other items.













I saw one sign of Spring, these primroses growing, fighting against an ocean of brown deadness.

Finally, you reach the most impressive part of the journey, Lambley Viaduct.









You find yourself on the old tracks and great views can be had from the viaduct.

Photo by WOMOTM

Walk towards the end and peek round the gates and see the old Lambley Station, also a house now, apparently once lived in by Catherine Cookson.

Photo by WOMOTM

Steps lead down towards the Tyne with a footbridge and you can see the impressive grandeur of Lambley Viaduct itself.









The viaduct is crafted from Sandstone sourced locally from nearby Slaggyford and Bardon Mill and opened in 1852. Following the line's closer, up until 1995/6 when the viaduct was restored, it was falling into disrepair.



It is a rather steep hike down the path to the Tyne and the river itself is very brown with the peat but still offers a childlike opportunity to skim stones or send them in with a hefty PLOP in my case. Or for you to balance a rock on your head. As you do often.










If you find yourself in Northumberland, I can heartily recommend this as an easy walk.  You can join the South Tyne trail further back, but I find this is the most scenic part of the route which is available for public walking.

Cycling Celeste- The Famous Five go cycling in Cambridge- or not?

I've not cycled as much I wanted to this summer. For various reasons I only went out cycling in the holidays around 5 times. The most epic of expeditions was the day we cycled the 53 miles or so from Brentwood, Essex to Jesus Green in Cambridge. This was supposed to be five of us (hence the blog title), a sort of swan song (or swan cycle) for CBC's flatmate who was moving back to S.A. However, for various reasons, it ended up just being CBC and I.

The weather was fortuitous- it was sunny but not too boiling. CBC and I set off around 10.45ish. I was dressed in my brand new cycling top. I have ummed and ahhed about whether to buy a proper cycling top for a while- they seemed very expensive and not particularly flattering. However, when the 2 tops I had liked in Cycle Surgery, when buying Celeste, appeared in the cycle surgery sale for less than half price, it seemed rude not to! I am a convert- they keep ou cool and covered! Voila- we have a Peal Izumi striped cycling top (and cheapy padded shorts plus modesty preserver in the form of polka dot shorts over the top! Can't quite bring myself to show my bottom encased in cycling shorts yet- after all- I don't want to share drivers or distract them! (plus usual uniform of spotty Converse and sunglasses) For any cycling lovers but hill haters, this route was particularly good as the majority of it is flat and there are some pretty places to visit plus wide open plains to enjoy!
The first exciting place of interest was the old Ongar tube station (used to be the Terminus of the Central line which now ends at Epping.). I've never seen it before and it was an interesting place to see. You feel immediately like you are back in a bygone era, a feeling the preservers of the site are keen to encourage- hence the pile of suitcases. In addition, there is some crazy household situated just next to the station which has an eccentric collection of memorabilia - weird, creepy-looking mannequins, a TARDIS and a dalek in their garden. AND several really scary looking signs saying something like, Trespassers will be killed or killer dogs on site with the latter dogs lurking in the garden. Any of you vintage fashionistas, landgirls or vixens should consider this as a photoshoot location!

The ride continued for another 10-15 miles or so. Our eventual aim was the Jesus Green lido so we could swim as our reward so I was keen to continue without stoppage, however, a small break was needed to drink some water (have I mentioned I can barely take my hands of the handlebars- gripping on for dear life being an understatement). We stopped at the Doctor's pond in Great Dunmow. This a fascinating place. It is known as this for various reasons suspected and fascinating reasons. Number one, because medicinal leeches were bred in the pond for the doctors' house located opposite. Secondly, maybe because a Doctor Rayner, residing in the town around the eighteenth century looked after and stocked the pond with plenty of fish. Finally, and most interestingly, a certain Lionel Lukin (1742-1834), bred in the town, was famous because of his invention, the non-sinkable lifeboat and the lake was the location for trying out the models (Source of reminders: BBC Essex website.)

As we arrived, 3 avid-looking children were fishing there, one of whom pulled out a bright orange koi-carp which they photographed and put back in. In the time we rested, ate a mule bar and a bit of energy gel (shudder), they caught several other, less vivid successors. They took this photo! As you can see, the sky was gloriously blue and my cheeks were feeling rather hot!

Continuing onwards, having called CBC's other flatmate, who was doing work but needed a lunch break, we rode onto the wonderful village of Thaxted. The location of a lovely music festival, the home of Dick Turpin and containing many wonderfully picturesque buildings), we stopped for lunch at the famous Poppy's tearoom. CBC has long raved on about this to me! Any Essex-types, it's worth a visit. They have an extensive range of teas including their own blend, wonderful cake and sandwiches. The flatmate met us there. I enjoyed a chocolate ice-cream milkshake, wonderful toasted sandwich, some cake and a fragrant tea blend, feeling somewhat bedraggled..

The thought of having to STILL cycle another 23 miles or so seemed utterly daunting but I don't like giving up. I almost almost asked N to give us a lift back in his spacious car but resisted!

I don't deny, the next 23 miles or so were HARD! It was getting late, we weren't sure what time Jesus Green lido would close on a Sunday, and the thought that it might be shut when we got there was too painful to bear. I gritted my teeth and continued, PEDAL, PEDAL, PEDAL.

Saffron Walden, another wonderful place, contained the only real proper hill on our journey (a mere pussy-cat by Northumberland standards) but I had a meltdown moment at the bottom of the hill where I stopped and cried! CBC stopped and hugged me better. I vanquished that hill subsequently. The final hike into Cambridge was lovely and flat and scenic although there were a couple of nasty A-roads that we had to cycle along to reach Cambridge.

I should point out at this point, that CBC told me beforehand, that the journey was 50miles, so when it transpired the bike computer was registering more than 50 miles, I felt somewhat cheated.

As we rode through Cambridge suburbs, a constant ostinato in my mind was, "Gotta get to Jesus Green". Alas, what if it wasn't open?????

At long last, passing along a parkland-flanked road, the way to Jesus Green was nigh. Manic pedalling along the canal path, we were there!

Asking at the office, they said we had ONE HOUR OF SWIM TIME!!!! The time was 6.30pm!!!!!

The sun was well and truly getting lower, so the lido was GLACIAL, but a wonderful reward.

The pool is very long and thin- one of the longest in Europe I believe and it is historic, having been open since 1923. We didn't stay in that long-CBC tends to turn blue if in cold water for too long but it was SUCH a feeling of triumph!!!

Fresh clothes to wear, transported in CBC's pannier, wet hair and a pub-dinner to look forward to.

The ride to the main street to find a pub was painful to say the least- my saddle felt rockhard on my saddle-sore behind as was the mile or so ride back to Cambridge station! We took the All-stations, calls at every blooming station in the known universe train back to Stratford, having just missed the Liverpool street train but eventually we returned home. Only problem was, the time being 11pm, utterly exhausted, having left CBC on a train back to Brentwood, I discovered I had forgotten my front door key...

A tiring but otherwise rewarding ride!