Day # 34 Dersingham, Norfolk to Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire

  Question: do they  make any smaller pickup than this 3 wheeler motorbike powered model?  

 A new day and new weather. Cold and clear with the remnants of significant ground frost as I left my Dersingham bed & breakfast at 7.15am. I prefer to negotiate a room rate that does not include the breakfast, and which is usually offered at a leisurely 8-9.30am. Not only do I save 5 pounds for the "full English", but I am sure that avoiding a daily stomach coating of heavy oil is likely better for me.
Continuing south on increasingly busy roads, I was able to leave the main A149 north of Kings Lynn (KL) to take a series of back roads and footpaths by which I entered KL through the 'back-door'. I have learned to be a little skeptical about some of these footpath and country lane alternative routes for hikers, as a couple of times, from my own experience, they have rapidly degenerated into muddy tracks, unsuitable for my 3 wheel jogger friend to pass. Time wasting back-tracking is to be avoided.
       As I move out of Norfolk and into Lincolnshire, the style of the local architecture has changed from the rather distinctive use of small stones set in concrete as the key wall element, to a more usual and widespread use of regular bricks and mortar.
      Today, for the fourth time on this walk, I was stopped by a police patrol, seeing what they believed was a man & baby on busy roads. They are always extremely polite and maybe it's because of my years, look very young and innocent. After a few questions and running me through their computer, send me on my way. Nice to know that the UK population is so well protected by such a professional corps.
      After my right turn to the west at the base of The Wash, I entered very flat country-side marked by large corporate farming operations. On this stretch, there is an apparent lack of overnight accommodation, and for that reason I was pushed to greater walking mileage today. Warm weather and bright sunshine made it pleasant.

33.5 kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative kms. covered: 817.0
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 9.0
Type of accommodation: Riverview Pub. B & B.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 35.00, no breakfast.
Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.

In 2008 Trillium had over 700,000 patient visits. Trillium’s doctors and nurses are ‘Giving 110%’ to patients….will you? Go to www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org and donate now!

Day #33 Burnham Deepdale to Dersingham, Norfolk.

        Departed  just after 8.00pm on a full stomach prepared by yours sincerely in the professional kitchen. Very pleasant to have spent a fun evening with a small group of bird-watchers and small sailing dinghy types. Interesting that there were not actually any youth in this youth hostel...median age was at least 55!

Dry initially, the weather, although decidedly warmer than last week, began to deteriorate early on and within an hour I was in full rain gear. Like-wise the walking roads became more heavily traveled compared to the quite back-roads that I have walked the passed week. As this is an important touristic area and next weekend is Easter, this may explain the influx of people.

        'Tis also the season for the farmers in Norfolk to spread a winters supply of manure on the fields. The pungent odour not exactly conducive to building ones appetite for a fine pub lunch.
    Pic left shows the fine accommodation at the Deepdale Backpackers hostel.
     Having filled my mileage quota for the day, rolled into Dersingham, a quiet, small, rather non-descript farm town. Quickly found a first rate, reasonably priced B & B. Hot shower, and with Wi-Fi on tap, to the computer to catch up on 3 days of being incommunicado.

27.8 kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 783.5
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 6.0
Type of accommodation: private B & B
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 25.00, no breakfast.

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.
In 2008 Trillium had over 700,000 patient visits. Trillium’s doctors and nurses are ‘Giving 110%’ to patients….will you? Go to www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org and donate now!

Day # 32 Wells Next the Sea to Deepdale, Norfolk.

Ornate chimneys.

            Sauntered forth from Elderdene B & B at 8.45am. with an itinerary of only 14 kms. on for the day. My left leg shin splints continue to bother and I am told that they are bothersome, rather than serious. The only cure is rest for several days. This not being an option at this time, I am favouring my leg and will endeavour not to punish it excessively with the walking sessions each day. The long run of decent weather continued again today, although there have been recent weather forecast headlines of  ‘major troughs’ (really!) heading this way.

           It occurred to me as I was walking today that since my arrival in the UK on 15 February, I have not seen on the TV, or read in the newspapers, any article on the 2012 London Olympics. Seems like that at least for the moment, with all the economic troubles, they are a non-event. Perhaps things will change after the July soccer World Cup in South Africa which certainly the major topic of conversation in the local pubs.

           Talking of pubs, that cherished British institution, there has been a revolution in the industry, apart from the outlawing of smoking. I saw a recent newspaper that 40 per DAY are disappearing due to a couple of factors, home entertainment systems and because of very cheap beer and hard liquor available in every corner convenience store---bottle of vodka for 5 pounds. Not sure if cheap booze is either good taxation or good social policy---ask the Russians. The pubs that do remain, and there are still thousands of them, have increased their offerings to include simple meals, music and quiz nights.

          Tonight , my address, is Deepdale Back Packers Hostel. Deluxe accommodation and all for just 10 pounds/17 dollars per night. Rattling around in the place, as I am the only guest in residence, so can spread my belongings over 5 beds in the dormitory.

          Tomorrow, a strange event occurs on my walk. Although I am headed northward, to the Scottish border at Berwick upon Tweed, I shall be walking due south so as to navigate around The Wash, to reach Kings Lynn and up into the fens of Lincolnshire.

  

12.0 kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 755.7
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 3.00
Type of accommodation: Backpacker hostel.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 10.50

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.
I’m ‘Giving 110%’ to Trillium through my “4 Million Step Walk” because I can. Donate Now:  www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day #31 Cromer to Wells Next the Sea, Norfolk.

East Anglia duck country.

      Enjoyed an extra hour in bed, till 7.00am, in the expectation that after a long day of walking yesterday, that I would have a short walk today only to the next larger town of Sheringham. After a relaxing cup of coffee in the warm sunshine on Sheringham’s attractive sea front, I had pangs of guilt and frankly Wilkinson #1 told Wilkinson #2 that he was a good for nothing lay-about and asked why the good Lord had given him legs. Bottom line: on yer bike mate! So chastened Wilkinson #1 headed off westwards along the rolling coast road towards Wells. In the early miles, I passed parks of perhaps tens of thousands of caravans and mobile homes. Obviously the population of this area is soon set to explode with approaching summer. Personally, I do not understand the appeal of leaving home comforts to sit with hundreds of others in an empty field, converted to high density living. Maybe I am missing something.

        North Norfolk is clearly a very affluent area that reveals this in the high quality homes and renovations that one sees everywhere. What I am unable to understand is the source of incomes to support such attractive real estate in a largely agricultural region. Are the houses lived in year round, or are they ‘gites’ for affluent (London) city dwellers who only reside in them only occasionally?

         The mobile home density dropped as I walked west-wards, to be replaced by duck hunters (of the picture taking variety, not with guns). Hundred of them spotted in the coastal marshes with tripod and telephoto cameras at the ready.

         Rolled into Wells Next the Sea with tired legs and 32 kms logged. The shin splints in my left leg seem to be getting better, but I really do promise myself an easier day tomorrow.

   

32.5 kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 743.7
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 7 1/2
Type of accommodation: Eastdene private B & B.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 45.00

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.
Trillium Health Centre has always been there for me and my family, I want to do my part and be there to support them. I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you?  www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day # 30 Sea Palling to Cromer, Norfolk

.   Laden with an ‘estomac’ of “full English”, I took to the north-bound road at 7.30am in cool, bright, dry weather conditions. The main coastal road, the B1159 is very quiet at this time of the year. Very few cars outside the villages and even fewer in the country stretches. The coastline today gradually tipped up, meaning that the major sea defence fortifications in the form of high dunes protecting vulnerable farm land that appears to be slightly lower than sea level, have disappeared and rolling cliffs are apparent increasingly as I progress northwards. The coastal road is lined on the sea side, by caravan and mobile home parks for miles. Obviously the (temporary) population levels in these areas is set to explode come early June. The route today was a full load for me at 29 kms. I am anxious to make mileage before the forecast wet spell arrives at week’s end.

        The villages of this area have a style that is traditional north Norfolk. Walls, barns and houses frequently use round stones, set in mortar as the raw material. I marvel that there could be so many millions of perfect round stones, 6-8 inches diameter, available locally.  Net effect is a very attractive constructed end product.

      I experienced today a condition to which I have heard other long distance walkers allude. For a brief few seconds, I think that I fell asleep as I was walking. The steady rhythm of the footfalls, and a stomach digesting it’s “full English”, obviously provided an excessive sense of comfort and relaxation. Not something that I want to have happen again, with its obvious perils.

      Cromer, perched at the top of the cliffs, my destination today, is a pleasant small town, sandy beaches, golf clubs and a healthy retail environment.

       Note: automated road cameras to photograph vehicular speeders. These seem to be scattered in their thousands across the UK. Obviously people in Britain do not have the privacy concerns that saw road cameras virtually banned in Ontario. Personally, I have no problem with road cams---you speed—you pay!

29.3 kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 711.2
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 6 1/2
Type of accommodation: Private B & B.

Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 25.00 no breakfast.


Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.

Day #29 Great Yarmouth to Sea Palling, Norfolk.

Main Street Sea Palling.

      Fortified with tea, fruit and cornflakes, consumed while sitting on the end of my bed, I emerged into a sunny, bright day at 6.45am.  Navigation is easy, along these coastal strip towns and all north bound coastal roads end up going where I want to go. The goddesses of the long distance walker were indeed smiling today. Flat terrain, no wind, cool and dry. The country side is gradually evolving from dairy, pastoral to have a much more flat and barren feel to it. This will increase in the weeks ahead as I approach the fen country up in Lincolnshire. To my right, mostly never nearer than 2/3 kms. away, are the high dunes marking the shoreline, but effectively blocking views of the sea. Coastal erosion and rising sea levels are a big issue here  in East Anglia. The UK Government has just announced that it does not have the funds to build sea defenses for all areas and that after 2050 it is expected that some low lying agricultural areas, including some villages will likely be lost to the ocean.
      Arrived at Sea Palling (pron. pauling) just after midday. At this time of the year, the village gives meaning to the word "quiet". I was not at all sure that there would be any rooms for rent in the town. Anyway, the only pub here obliged with shelter for the night.
        I am gradually learning the meaning of the sign "low doorway, watch your head". Never a quick learner, I am gradually learning to stoop. As so many buildings here are several hundreds of years old, it is interesting that the average adult height back then was so much shorter than today.

       The beach here in Sea Palling is wide and golden. In splendid isolation, I watched what I initially thought were local dogs swimming & playing about 40 feet out, only to realize that they were in fact seals. Unfortunately they dived just too fast for my rather old and slow digital camera to capture.

25.2 kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 681.9
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 6.0
Type of accommodation: Pub B & B
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 35.00

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.
In 2008 Trillium had over 700,000 patient visits. Trillium’s doctors and nurses are ‘Giving 110%’ to patients….will you? Go to www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org and donate now!

Day #28, rest day in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

  Note the plaque that says that Charles Dickens wrote part of 'David Copperfield' while staying on the sea front in Great Yarmouth.

        Rest day. No excuses, just enjoying the easy life. Already the painful shin splints seem to have reacted positively to the time off. The day started in beautiful warm sun shine which might have accounted for the racket from the sea gulls that awoke me too early. Grey skies rolled in over Great Yarmouth (GY) this afternoon.
     This town is the epitome of a time warp. Nothing that  I can see even indicates the decade in which we are living. The same old pensioners are huddled up on the sea front eating their egg & tomato sandwiches as were here 45 years ago, when I last visited. The city fathers seem to be totally asleep at the switch in terms of infrastructure improvement and investment as the whole town seems to be collapsing. Sorry to be rather down on you GY, but that's the way I see it.

0 Kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 656.7
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 0
Type of accommodation: Guest house.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 16.00, no breakfast.

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk. 

The 'Prom' Great Yarmouth.

4 million steps in support of over one million+ patients that rely on Trillium Health Centre. I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Donate Now www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org  

Day #27 Lowestoft to Great Yarmouth , Norfolk.

  Of Saints and sinners. Yes, a church and TWO lacy black bras!  Who said walking quiet country lanes was boring?

     The B & B operator and his rather loud wife returned from an evening wedding at about 2.00am. and awoke the inmates rather rudely from their beauty sleep—who to complain to, when the offender is the land-lord?

      A manageable 20 km. stretch today along the coast northward from Lowestoft to that queen of tacky seaside resorts—Great Yarmouth (GY). Today’s return to GY was a classic example of the rule not to return to places. I last came here in 1964 and spent a riotous 3 days here with my old friend John Pugh. The memories, music, fashions of that trip will always be with me. In comparison, GY is looking very much the worse for wear on a cold, grey March evening. The resort is almost eerie in that there is nary a tourist to be seen. The massive slot machine palaces, and there are several of them along the sea front, are open with garish lights and loud music, but all totally devoid of punters ready to try their luck to win a totally useless prize. After securing myself accommodation in one the hundreds of empty boarding houses, taking my 3.00pm siesta, I walked the streets to find food. So much food, so little to eat, I ended up in a McDonalds to sample their chicken salad and a banana milk shake.

       I plan to rest over again in GY for another day tomorrow before tackling some rather lengthy stages further up the coast. For the past couple of days, I have been suffering shin splints in the lower left leg. Painful, I invested in a cold compress and a package of high powered pain killers. After 650 kms. walking and no rest day since Eastbourne, 400 kms back, I feel my body needs a decent lie in bed tomorrow to hopefully help the leg.

19.2 Kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 656.7

Hours of walking today including rest stops: 5.0
Type of accommodation: The Beach House B & B
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 16.00 No breakfast.

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.

Help me every step of the way by supporting Trillium Health Centre. I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Donate Now:  www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day #26 Reydon to Lowestoft, Suffolk.

         Finally extracted myself from the Reydon B & B at a slothful 9.15am after having commiserated withenjoyed since 1950! The sunny clear skies promised per the BBC weather forecast is in fact grey, overcast but dry day. A short leg today to position myself for another easy day tomorrow, when I will attain the 'jewel' of the East Anglian coast, otherwise known as Great Yarmouth. After that, the towns become markedly sparser and the distances greater.

the old couple who owned the place, on every ailment that they have
        Arrived in Lowestoft, the most easterly point in the UK, at approx. 1.30pm. Famous as the major fishing port of England, the fishing industry has been completely crushed by over fishing and I was not able to spot a single trawler in port. At the local fish and chip shop, the Greek owner was very clear that there are plenty of cod in the North Sea, but because of EU regulations, they are all being caught by Spanish, Russian and Norwegian factory ships. To make his point he told me that the very  piece of fried cod fish that he was selling to me, was from Spain. The French have a word for it: mondialisation.
         Observation: in the UK, as in Canada/North America, that species known as the teen-ager, seems to have disappeared from public view on the streets. Are they all hidden away in darkened rooms playing their computer games? Sad!

18.0 Kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 637.5
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 4 .0
Type of accommodation: Guest house.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 30.00

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.
4 million steps in support of the all our young and old who rely on Trillium Health Centre. I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Donate now www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org  

Day #25 Leiston to Reydon/Southwold, Suffolk

Pic shows Southwold Abbey.        

JINXED! Only yesterday was I was celebrating(boasting) this DRY-- (11 days), island when out of the blue and totally unexpectedly, we had guess what—a rainy day! Wrapped up and rolling forth northwards at 8.30am for my day. Had only proceeded half an hour, when local garden landscaper Ian invited me into his shed for a coffee and biscuits. Thanks Ian. It is this rain I think, that must make people sorry for me. Ian’s first question was a very direct “Are you homeless?” I explained in the negative (but I could well have been, stranded between B & Bs) and Ian talked about the influx into Eastern England of large numbers of Latvians, Poles, Estonians etc. Often these people, now in the EU, arrive in poor economic circumstances……. I must have looked bit like a rain soaked Pole down on his luck!

      Another couple of miles along my minor B road outing, and I happened on a magnificent and very humourous collection of steel sculptures/statues designed by enormously talented Paul Richardson. Amazingly lifelike, they would form a  a custom made and real show-stopper in a garden, outside a hospital etc. Thanks Paul for your time talking about your work:             www.steelsculptures.co.uk

      Moving gradually eastwards as well as northwards, I approached the coast at Southwold, through an area of rather desolate marshes this grey and rainy cold March day. Southwold is one of those villages that look likes it has been picked up directly from the pages of an Agatha Christie murder novel. Looks like nothing has happened here for a hundred years and that’s the way the locals want to keep it. Be gone tourists! If you don’t like it, we will increase our prices until you scream in pain. This tourist, beat a tactical retreat for the night to find B & B shelter in the much less fashionable ajoining town of Reydon. Weather projections are for a much more weather friendly weekend. Here’s hoping!                                  

24.4 Kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 619.5
Hours of walking today including rest stops:  5.5
Type of accommodation: small B & B.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 40.00

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.

Trillium Health Centre has always been there for me and I am giving 110% to Trillium as they prepare to meet the tsunami of aging boomers with weak hearts and broken bones. Donate Now:  www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day #24 Woodbridge to Leiston, Suffolk.

Garden Art.

       Emerged from the Station House B & B under a large "Full English" at 8.15am after a rather sleepless night. Had not realized that the old hotel, backing onto the river boatyard, also backed onto a busy all night goods traffic rail spur. Remember that old music hall ditty "The railroad runs thru the middle of the house"?
     Once again grey, over-cast and feeling quite cold at about +5 C. But miracles of miracles, for the 11th. straight day it stayed dry. Who said that England is non- stop rain? Just hope that I did not jinx my good fortune with those words.
         Passed through several heavily forested areas in this part of central Suffolk. Unfortunately, also saw two dead deer on the road-side that had obviously come off second best in contests with the metal monsters passing through their home. On the subject of road kill, I have also tallied the bodies of three beautiful foxes so far on the walk. Fox-hunting per se, has been banned in the UK since 2006 (according to locals at the local country pub, it is still carried on, quite widely, but unofficially). A very emotive issue in country areas, as it pits town people against country folk, labour against conservative. Anyway, bottom line, it still seems that Freddy Fox and his buddies are still coming up second best in their battle against the human kind.
       Let's make this a day of road gutter observation: if I could have a pound, or even a dollar for every heavy duty work glove that I see along the edge of the high way, I would be a rich man. When British work men have finished their 8 hour shift, do they hurl their old, soiled gloves out of the car window as they drive home? What about some one collecting them all and starting a work glove recycling business??
        Came through the village of Rendlesham. I was surprised that there was a development/ sub-division of large homes that were markedly bigger and more luxurious than is the norm in the UK, especially in farming areas. At the pub where I stopped in for my mid morning coffee, I asked about this and was told that the village had until 3 years ago, hosted several thousand Americans at a top secret missile base not far away. The locals seemed to have liked the Yanks and missed their spending power when they closed the site and did not seem to be offended to becoming heirs to those beautiful homes with 3 garages.

24.8 Kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative kms. covered:  595.1
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 5.5
Type of accommodation: Private bed and breakfast
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 30.00 (no breakfast).

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.
Trillium serves over one million+ residents annually…the future of healthcare is here!  I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Please donate to Trillium Health Centre www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day #23 Brantham to Woodbridge, Suffolk.

       Unusual to spend a night with 4 other males in a small dormitory. Have not enjoyed the experience for more than 30+ years! In all, the youth hostel accommodation was first-rate down to micro-waves, copious hot showers, laundry room etc., and all for the reasonable price of about 18 dollars. Emerged into another cold, grey, but dry day. No need for my omni-present sunglasses in this country. Five miles up the road, entered Ipswich. An attractive blend of old/traditional and post sixties architecture with a circular ring road running through the town centre. Since the  UK accession to the EU in the 70's, the economic gravity of the country has shifted to the east coast, with the old ports like Liverpool and Bristol that face North America and the Caribbean now moribund and searching for ways to rediscover their economic potential. Ipswich and its satellite port at Harwich resonate with the activities of the dockyards and the roar of the juggernauts rolling off the ferry boats from Rotterdam etc.
        Foxes: the hunting of which has been theoretically banned for several years. So far this walk, I have come across three dead animals on the roadside, the victims of unfortunate contact with the metal monsters. Not sure if this reflects a boom in the population of foxes post hunting era.

Brantham youth hostel.

      The walk was several kms. more than planned  today, as I left the main road to search for an elusive low cost bed & breakfast for the night. Either it never it never existed, or is local trick to tire out the tourists (of the walking genre) and be more accepting of  higher lodging prices. Go figure!

26.5 Kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 570.3
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 7.5
Type of accommodation: Guest house /restaurant.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 40.00

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.

Trillium serves over one million+ residents annually…the future of healthcare is here!  I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Please donate to Trillium Health Centre www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day #22 Colchester, Essex to Brantham, Suffolk.

Roman wall remains

  Pic shows a section of the old Roman city wall in Colchester. Sections dot the centre town landscape.    

A civilized ‘late’ 8.30am start to the day today, after a chatty breakfast with David, proprietor of the Pescara Guest House in Colchester. Declared redundant at age 55, David has built a really beautiful guest home full of antiques none of which for has paid more than 10 pounds. David is a hard-core auction fiend and treats the whole process as undisguised warfare.

        Weather cold and grey, but light rain held off until I reached my destination for the night. Generally maintained my route through quiet country roads and in fact, had a couple of half hour intervals when only a solitary farm-tractor trundled past me.

       As is the nature of the solitary walker there is plenty of time to day-dream & to ponder the big issues. As I watch the con-trails of the big jets overhead and think of all the passengers enjoying their plastic scampi and consider that in the duration of their meal—one hour, they will have travelled 500 miles. It will take the urban car driver moving at 40 mph, 12½ hours non-stop to cover the same distance. Yours sincerely, the coastal walker pushing his jogger, takes, at 2½ mph, 200 hours, at 6 hours walking per day, 33 days to cover the same distance. Point to muse on anyway!

       Today’s walk skirted the Stour River estuary, mostly consisting of muddy river- banks, lined with hundred of characters wielding rods. Question: Do these numbers of fish persons reflect the depth of the recession?

                                     

22.6 Kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 543.8
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 6 1/4.
Type of accommodation: Youth Hostel
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 11.50

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.
In 2008 Trillium had over 700,000 patient visits. Trillium’s doctors and nurses are ‘Giving 110%’ to patients….will you? Go to www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org and donate now!

Day #21 Maldon to Colchester Essex.

Attractive thatched cottage.

        Emerged 7.30am from my over night digs with a load of "full English breakfast" on board. Keen to load up the calories as today was cold, with a fair wind out of the east. The babbling brooks alongside the roads all had a light coating of ice. The season is noticeably later than on the south coast last week and the spring lambs must all still be sequestered in their sheds. Most horses that I have seen are covered with winter coats for their nights in the paddocks. Good walking today on  relatively direct, B denominated highways, that importantly keep me away from the high speed traffic carried on the A type routes. Was able to tarry a while with John who was cleaning the windows of a road-side country pub. John introduced me to his landlord, who when he understood the motive and details of my walk, treated me a pint of his best, 'on the house'. Thanks to all at the Angel Inn.
         Reached Colchester at 1.30pm. Another Roman city. The suffix in the name, ie: "chester" indicates its origins as being a Roman military city. Colchester, where the Roman wall is still apparent throughout the city, is the oldest constituted city in England.
        Note the very great absence of 100% new building construction as I pass the towns and villages. Don't really under stand the nuances of the economics of construction in the UK, but they do seem to prefer to (partially) gut and renovate, as opposed to the total re-building, up to 2010 standards mostly preferred in North America. One sees many building here that have obviously had multiple additions to them, by different owners, over the decades. To my mind the end product frequently looks dis-jointed.
         Tomorrow I continue my swing to the east, hopefully reaching Ipswich, so as to regain the coast-line which I had lost due to the need to pass the Thames estuary.

27 .3 Kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 521.2
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 6.0
Type of accommodation: Pescara Guest House
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 40.00

Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.
Trillium Health Centre has always been there for me and my family, I want to do my part and be there to support them. I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you?  www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day #20 Chelmsford to Maldon, Essex

                              Pic to the right is of my hotel in Maldon.
        Wake to see that my window is covered in frost. The very early dawn light indicates clear skies and an indication that the high pressure system, stationary over the UK for the past week, should persist for another walking day. Appreciate the almost total absence of traffic this Sunday morning as I wend my way eastwards first to Danbury, very affluent, beautiful homes and then on into my target for the day, the market town of Maldon. A relatively short stage today, but a positioning day, ready for the longer walk into the regional centre of Colchester tomorrow. The agricultural terrain is relatively flat in this area, and the kilometres seem to come easier.....maybe it is that my legs are stronger now with 500 kms. and 3 weeks 'on the road' on them. I am amazed when I ask for directions from locals and they almost apologize when explaining to me that my destination point is a full 2 miles distant! Seems that most people here are now fully immersed into the automobile culture a la North America, that the word 'walk' is a four letter word.
        The evidence of the British recession and property collapse is clearly evident on the streets of the towns of England. Yesterday in Chelmsford, I counted 12/ repeat 12, property selling businesses in a row in the central business district. Add these to the seeming dozens of charity shops, the distress of the local high street scene can be appreciated.
See walk pics at Flickr (traveller6666)

21.5 Kms. walked today per pedometer: Cumulative kms covered: 493.9
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 4.5
Type of accommodation: Mill House Guest House
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 25.00 incl. breakfast.

4 million steps in support of the all our young and old who rely on Trillium Health Centre. I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Donate now www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day # 19 Wickford to Chelmsford, Essex.

          Awake bright and early at prepare to leave Wickford accommodation on yet another sunny, clear, bright and crisp English morning. It has been a week since the last rain on my route and dangerously, I maybe guilty of beginning to expect an unending stretch of good English walking days before the next soaking. My direction today takes me westwards, away from the coast, as I am determined to correct a deficiency in my jogger that has created considerable frustration. I have come an expert puncture repairer, and can do a full roadside patch job in about half an hour. Walking next to the bramble hedges for many hours daily, it impossible to avoid the thorn residue that litters the gutter. Referred to a professional cycle repair shop in Chelmsford, I invest in Kevlar bands that are inserted under the tyre cover and over the inner tube. The ‘au fait’ will know Kevlar is the material (produced by spiders (!) that is used as part of bullet-proof vests. Figure that if it will stop bullets, it should keep thorns out of my wheels. Regret that I did not research enough PRIOR to departure to find about Kevlar inserts.  Let’s hope they will work as promised.

        

21.2 Kms. walked today per pedometer: Cumulative kms covered: 472.4
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 4.0
Type of accommodation: Pub B & B
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 35.0
To view pics of the walk, please go to Flickr  (traveller6666).

Trillium serves over one million+ residents annually…the future of healthcare is here!  I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Please donate to Trillium Health Centre www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day #18 Gravesend (London) to Wickford, Essex.

A frosty Thames ferry ride to Tilbury.

           Out bright and early at 6.40 am into a crackling, frosty and clear morning to catch the first ferry cross the Thames to Tilbury. Predictably, I took the wrong turn out of the maze of roads that are the Tilbury dock installations. That sorted out eventually, I was able to regain my route to the north carefully avoiding being sucked into pedestrian unfriendly, high speed major roads, opting for the slower, and more scenic secondary routes. Was surprised how quickly the industrial landscape dropped away as I walked further into Essex. Within just a few miles of the London conurbation, I was into fields and able to enjoy all the lambing activities in the fields. Gradually the day warmed with the bright sun out of a clear sky. Thats 5 in a row now, so I am just hoping that this absence of rain will continue all the way to June!!
           I have discovered a major error in Google maps. Yes, they seem to be quite accurate topographically, but all the instructions have been predicated on the basis of driving on the right side, rather than the UK left side. Thus, an exit at a roundabout at the 3 o'clock position is directed as the first exit rather than the third exit. Rather confusing at first, but 'do-able' now I understand the Google error.
           Forced to invest in a night rent in a very comfortable hotel, but the location did not offer any cheaper alternatives and after 33 kms. at a rather fast clip, the old legs just said "pay up". Hopefully things will equalize as I hit the sea coast resorts where cheap boarding houses abound.

33.5 Kms. walked today per pedometer: Cumulative kms covered: 451.2
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 7 3/4
Type of accommodation: Hotel
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 57.00.

If interested, see trip photos at Flickr:       "traveller6666"

The future of healthcare is here!  I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Please support me by donating to Trillium Health Centre. Donate Now www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

A medieval horse watering trough.

Day # 17 Sittingbourne to Gravesend.

        Thank you Julius Ceasar. The long straight flat road, known as Watling Street that you constructed two thousand years ago, right across Albion (England), in order to move your Roman armies of occupation about quickly, effectively ensuring that rebellious minions were quickly thwarted, served me well today. Departing from my B & B Sittingbourne at the crack of dawn  (6.45am), I made steady progress through increasingly dense conurbations as London was approached. Particularly pleasant, apart from the cool, dry, sunny weather was the presence of sidewalks for all 27 kms., making it so much safer and reducing the attention level that one is compelled to pay to oncoming traffic. Stopped for refreshment at an attractive pub in Rochester, an old Roman fortress town later fortified by a castle and a still very significant city wall constructed by the Normans circa 1200AD. Certainly a candidate town I shall place on my to be re-visited list.

A place to water the horses.

          The walk is going well in most respects to this point. The concrete is grinding down the rubber of my jogger tires, rather faster than I had imagined that it would, and sometime soon I will have to replace the tire casings. Having reached London on the 4^th March, I am 11 days ahead of where I thought that I would be at this time, ie: before departure, I had projected to cross the River Thames on the 15^th. March.

Gravesend, is the most easterly crossing point on the Thames and tomorrow I shall take the 10 minute pedestrian ferry across to Tilbury.

27.9 Kms. walked today per pedometer: Cumulative kms covered: 407.6
Hours of walking today including rest stops:  7.0
Type of accommodation: Pub-hotel.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds.40.00 no breakfast.

Trillium serves over one million+ residents annually…the future of healthcare is here!  I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Please donate to Trillium Health Centre www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day #16 Whitstable to Sittingbourne

The goddess of fair (walking) weather was again smiling on this corner of the world. Emerged from the B & B starting gate in Whitstable, at a respectable 7am, washed, well fed and feeling positive about the world. Like those early starts to the day, before the school crowds clog the roads. A gentle following breeze from the east, as I commenced my approach to the London region along the south side of the River Thames estuary. Determined today to keep off the major roads with their noise and pollution. The two major roads, at this point, into London, are the A2 (arterial) and the M2 (freeway). Parallel to these, are the old roads that sufficed in the age of yore. Amazed that I could actually walk these quiet country lanes, sometimes not seeing a motor vehicle for 15-20 minutes at a time. So pleasant to enjoy the oast houses, thatched roofed cottages, sheep and horses in the fields. The convenient half-way point was the market town of Favesham. So self conscientiously medieval along the main streets of the town centre, it would not be difficult to envisage Favesham as the location of an extended movie set. Have to wonder what the future of this type of town is, as the large discount stores circle the main small shop dominated shopping district, like a pack of vultures.
Early to start and early to finish the walk was today my mission, completing the walk at 1.30pm when I entered Sittingbourne, a dormitory town for the crowd who commute by rail and likely work in London's east end.

23.7 Kms. walked today per pedometer: Cumulative kms covered: 379.7
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 6 hrs.  15 mins.
Type of accommodation: Beaumont B &  B
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 35.00 (no breakfast).

4 million steps in support of the all our young and old who rely on Trillium Health Centre. I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Donate now www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day #15 Herne Bay to Whitstable

Thames river estuary.

                 After a night of “Gyp Tummy” as the vets used to call it, I decided to pamper myself with a resting stage today, comprising of an 11 km. stroll westwards along the Thames estuary from Herne Bay to the resort of Whitstable. Not on cliffs exactly, but the road along the seashore is raised enough to afford magnificent panoramas, especially on a bright, sun lit morning. Obviously, a lot of London money finds itself to this area, judging by the beautiful homes and parking areas crammed with BMWs and Mercedes.

          Although it is mid-week and off-season, there are very few bed and breakfasts places available in this area. A fact, explained to me by the people at the ‘information centre’ that it is traditionally a ‘day tripper’ destination for Londoners, who visit only if it is sunny and only stay a single day, due to the fact that London is just an hour away.

         Preparing myself for the slog over the next 4-5 days, into and out of the mega-urban London area. I shall lose sight of the sea until I see it again in the Ipswich area.

Have been carefully studying the maps to chart a route through the London area, using as many ‘walker friendly’ B roads as possible.

          Apparently this was the coldest winter in the UK for 31 years, and the wettest February for 11 years. Having suffered several ‘wet through to the skin’ soakings since commencing the walk on the 15 February, I am glad that I started no earlier.

11.5 Kms. walked today per pedometer: Cumulative kms covered: 356.0
Hours of walking today including rest stops:  3.5
Type of accommodation: The Oyster Bed & breakfast.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds.30.00 (excl. breakfast).

I’m ‘Giving 110%’ to Trillium through my “4 Million Step Walk” because I can. Donate Now:  www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

Day #14 Ramsgate to Herne Bay.

Rochester castle.

Day #14  Ramsgate to Herne Bay.

           The storms of yesterday have moved off east into Europe, but not until they had created flood havoc in East Anglia and Cambridgeshire. Today arrived clear, mild and sunny and in fact, stayed like that all through the day. Foot travel in certainly much more pleasant and quicker, when there is no rain and wind to combat.

          The flavour of this day, and it seems that each one brings its own challenges, was in the area of navigation. I knew where I wanted to go, but seemed to continually to get locked between the major freeway to London and a rail trunk line. Promising roads to the coast seemed repeatedly to come to dead-ends with resultant back-tracking, easy to do as a car driver, but fatiguing as a pedestrian.

         I am now tracking due west along the south side of the Thames estuary, towards my river crossing point at Dartford, just east of London. At this point, the estuary is so wide, that even on a clear day, the north shore is hardly visible. Noted the wind farms off-shore and according to locals, the area is in heavy construction mode for more wind farm building all along the coast.

The future of healthcare is here!  I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? Please support me by donating to Trillium Health Centre. Donate Now www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org

32.5 Kms. walked today per pedometer: Cumulative kms covered: 344.9
Hours of walking today including rest stops:  7.75
Type of accommodation: B & B Guest house.
Cost of bed &  sans breakfast: pounds.30.00