Day 24 – Saturday 15 July 2000 - South Woodham Ferrers to Rochford

9 miles walked today

318.5 miles walked in total (average 13.27)

I knew I shouldn’t have walked today.  I had a twinge in my left knee all yesterday that cleared up by mid afternoon.  And, when I woke up this morning (at Sam’s in Epsom), Auntie June checked teletext – showers forecast.  Then I discovered that I’d left my maps in Portsmouth.  Marvellous.

I drove to South Woodham Ferrers and the tide was too high to walk across to Hullbridge.  South Woodham Marine had suggested, when I ‘phoned in the week, that someone would probably row me across if necessary.  Despite standing around looking helpless, there were no boats in sight so I decided to cut my losses and drive round to Hullbridge.  The alternative was to walk to Battlesbridge along major roads and through a very busy building site.  Thought I’d cheat instead.  Besides, the whole distance across the river couldn’t have been more than twenty yards.

I got to Hullbridge at nine thirty and tried to walk along the sea wall, which started off very well maintained but soon petered out just past Brandy Hole Yacht Club.  I ended up walking back through private lanes to get out to the road from Hullbridge to Rochford.  The road went round in a huge circle until, at half past ten, I was back at my car.  At which point I lost my sense of humour and considered driving back to Portsmouth and giving it up as a bad job.

After a quick look at the atlas in my car, I knew I’d have to stick to roads, heading for Canewdon, Rochford, Little and Great Wakering and Southend.  In the absence of my Ordnance Survey map, footpaths would have to wait for another day.  (It’s not a great loss leaving out a chunk anyway – you can’t walk around Wallasea Island, as the path goes so far and then stops, meaning an about turn and back again.  The rest of the island, together with Foulness Island, is a “danger area”.)

The heavens opened as I got into Ashingdon so I took cover in a bus shelter and ate my lunch.  It soon cleared up so I headed off to Rochford.  It’s been all road walking, which, although quick, is very dull, especially as it’s been one residential area after another.  The sun came out and I soon dried out, although it left me steaming and generally uncomfortable.  After about half an hour, the rain came down again, just as I was passing Rochford railway station and a taxi rank.  Thought I’d better give up today – nine miles isn’t too bad anyway.  Sam text messaged my mobile ‘phone to say, “No matter how little you do.  It will all help towards your goal”.  That really cheered me up – not so disastrous a day after all.

(Today is St Swithin’s Day – so, if it rains today, it will rain for forty days.  Looks like we’re in for a rubbish summer then!)