Day 13 – Sunday 5 March 2000 - Ipswich to Shotley Gate

10.5 miles walked today

174 miles walked in total (average 13.38)

I stayed last night with Sharon, Stewart, Eleanor, Fleur (the dog) and Hannah, Eleanor’s friend.  I hadn’t seen the girls for eighteen months, when they came to stay in Norfolk for a week.  It was brilliant to catch up on all the news and gossip!

I got up late today – eight o’clock.  I could afford a lay in – not so many miles to my goal of Shotley and only a thirty minute drive back into Ipswich to start walking.

Sharon spoiled me rotten – last night I had a cup of tea waiting for me when I arrived and the bathroom was free for me to soak while dinner was cooked.  This morning, I had breakfast prepared for me while I got ready and also a packed lunch!

Gorgeous day again – sunny and much milder than yesterday.  Had a mooch around Ipswich while trying to find the river and started walking properly at about ten thirty.  My first major event was walking under the Orwell bridge – it’s enormous!  I was so overawed that I had to ‘phone Dad and Sam to tell them!

Very warm today – I’ve had lots of water stops and spent a lot of time sitting down.  Which is just how I like it!  (I’m now considering whether I should leave a layer of clothing off – I’ve been wearing thermal teeshirt, sweatshirt and fleece up until now, but I’m getting too overheated.)

Unfortunately, there were loads of midges around – maybe I should also be packing my Jungle Formula?

Wolverstone Park is very pretty – with its own small church and massive school.  I was surprised there weren’t more people about today – the weather was fantastic.  It was so peaceful.

The footpath went through a small wood from the park and was incredibly muddy.  A little way out of the woods, I had a fantastic view of Pin Mill with its boats and pub.  Pippa (again!) had said I should stop at the Butt and Oyster for lunch – it was deceivingly small from the outside, but huge within.  And very crowded too – another popular watering hole.

From Pin Mill, I was back on roads to Shotley Gate, the point where the Orwell and the Stour meet.  I popped into the Bristol Arms to get a drink and a taxi number and was amazed to find a pub/ general stores.  They seemed to sell everything.

HMS Ganges was based at Shotley Gate and the training mast is still there.  My taxi driver told me that, since it’s been out of service, planning permission has been applied for to build four hundred and fifty retirement homes.  That fell through and the London Asylum Seekers’ Association had suggested moving two hundred and seventy refugees there instead.

The residents were up in arms because there’s no bus service after six o’clock in the evening, only one doctor, one school and one road into Ipswich.  The media called them all xenophobic, but the villagers said they were merely concerned there wasn’t the infrastructure to accommodate all these people.  They have won that battle, although it now appears that the retirement homes may be going ahead.

I’m not sure they’ve opposed that scheme though – perhaps there was some racism involved?  After all, if they can’t accommodate two hundred and seventy refuges, how will they look after four hundred and fifty retired people?