Last Saturday, a week ago, I suggested to CBC that we go for a long walk. The weather was lovely and both of us had failed to get ANY exercise the previous Monday to Friday (I may have had a walk on Monday but I'm not sure) and we needed to get some.
He acquiesced and so we set off from our front door.
The first part of the walk was not interesting as it was along the main road until we reached the first part of the Roach Valley way. We walked up to the beautiful Minster church (which I didn't photograph but you saw it in a previous post of walking)
After about 3 miles, we turned off roads into a field path. All of a sudden, we were completely alone. To be honest, for most of the three miles, we had been but now, goodbye all civilisation.
The vast open spaces filled my heart with utter joy and we could see in all directions. All at once, again, like I have been every time I've walked in lockdown, I have been awed and blessed and thankful for where we live- to have such open spaces. I imagine my feeling of positivity throughout all this would be very different if I were cramped in a one bedroom flat in the city.
We could hear Curlews and other birds and it was gloriously easy to walk.
I found myself much taken by the swishing ostinato of the long grasses. We continued on for a mile and a half. CBC told me we were going to try and find the river and it seemed like we never would.
Then all of a sudden, we saw this...
"Is that the river?!" I asked eagerly.
"No," he replied, "That's the flood defences"* (*or something of that ilk)
I stopped to admire every beautiful difference.
We climbed up a steep slope and then...
The River at last!
I was utterly spellbound.
There was a hushed awe to the air of the feeling where you cannot quite believe how fortunate you are.
I stepped down easily to the 'sea wall'
To me, the mud looked like a beach, one that I could easily walk across and swim.
CBC was more skeptical about this but was equally delighted with the sight.
I begged to stop for our picnic here (we'd brought sandwiches, crisps and fruit, as we'd set out around lunchtime, stupidly, only to be eaten where there was no one else).
Here's a little video of the expanse.
He disagreed and said we should continue walking for a while.
I didn't tire of the sights or the utter feeling of euphoria on how we could possibly have this in walking distance from our house! CBC could never moan about where we live again!
Views across to the other side were interesting. We spied the odd train of the sparse branch line that runs on that side of the river.
The path was easy to walk on.
We didn't see a soul for at least 4 miles.
We continued walking on, reaching salt marshes which are a sanctuary for birds. There are nature reserves for the Essex Wildlife trust here.
A delightful stretch of Cow Parsley was an interesting difference.
I did keep seeing plants that were shockingly like Swiss Chard. I even stopped to pick some. Anyone got any idea what it might be?
Abandoned or just resting?
After a few miles, we saw signs of habitation on the right.
But the mud beaches stretched in never ending line, along the margin of a bay!
A most incongruous sign was Sheep in Essex! But sharing the love.
I particularly loved this stretch where the contours and colours made a beautiful layer cake.
I spied a lonesome Borage plant. Just the one.
Finally, after my feet were starting to hurt and it was at least 4 o clock, CBC agreed to stop for lunch.
We stepped down onto the sea wall, I discovered the mud wasn't so nice to stand on. The Bladderwrack was useful for stepping back.
No illegal non-social distancing here.
And that was my view for my Brie sandwich and crisps.
We continued along the path. I kept asking CBC when we were going to turn round as my feet were starting to hurt (at this point, I had no idea how far we'd walked)
He said that would almost reach Wallasea Island and then we would have to take right footpart. It seemed interminable and his hips started to hurt. Still, there was much beauty to make up for it.
As well as seeing a variety of wader birds including Oyster Catchers, we were flanked by the sound of a most persistent cuckoo for what seemed like miles.
I captured a bit of it here (turn your sound up)
At this point, my camera died and I had to continue walking.
As the sun set, we walked across fields and fields and it became harder and harder to walk. Still, the rewards of perseverance were the glorious pink skies.
We walked into town and ordered some Chinese Takeaway (the restaurant had opened to takeaways 2 days ago) as a reward since it was already 8.15pm and we were so tired, it would be futile to cook.
They told us it would be 50minutes to wait so we limped home, via Sainsbury's Local which was empty and arrived home around 8.45pm, ready to drive back to the Chinese to pick it up.
That food was most welcome!
As we eagerly ploughed our way through the food, CBC looked at his OS maps and worked out our final mileage.
We had walked.....15.3miles! No wonder I could barely walk! It certainly made up for the lack of exercise for the whole working week and the visual sights and soul food made it worthy. It was a great exercise in gratitude as we kept repeating how lucky we are to live here all along the way.
I am aware how fortunate I am in these times, I have not faced hardship financially, mentally or in terms of space but it has been a time for learning the joy of what you have for me.
Onto the next!
