Log No 334. Tue 3rd Jun 2014 - Thorpe-le-Soken to Bradfield, 20 miles (5159 miles walked)

The weather was the same as yesterday and I was away by 07.00 again, walking north through Thorpe-le-Soken on the B1414.

I had to get round Hamford Water and all its creeks, and that meant an inland route as there were no embankment footpaths around it.

My only decision was whether to stick to the roads or try and use footpaths.

The first footpath at Beaumont cut a big corner off the road so I was going to use this one anyway, it was a farm track and then a path through a field of crops, both nice and dry to walk on so that persuaded me to try to stick to footpaths.

I was able to take a near straight line of footpaths with just the odd short road section, passing through Great Oakley and Little Oakley, where it started to rain lightly, to join up with the cycleroute to the seafront at the south end of Harwich.


The skyline was dominated by the cranes at the container dockyards in Felixstowe, across Harwich Harbour.

It was 10.00 when I went by the two old lighthouses at Dovercourt in Harwich and my stomach was starting to remind me that I hadn't had a break yet.

After my break I continued round Old Harwich, Felixstowe was just across the harbour but it will be Thursday before I get there.

The old crane was unusual as it used a vertical treadwheel (inside the shed) for lifting and lowering cargo etc.

As I was needing supplies I walked through Harwich town centre to find a shop and then continued along the road to the small village of Ramsey to pick up the Essex Way.

The light rain had been off and on but now started with a heavy shower which forced me to find shelter under a tree so I could get the waterproofs on.

It was far too warm to keep them on so it was a good thing the shower only lasted 10 minutes.

The Essex Way had a good mix of footpaths, through fields, alongside the River Stour and through bits of woodland, it was very pleasant walking.

When the next shower came along I could see it wouldn't last long and I couldn't be bothered with frequent stops to 'suit up' so I just got damp, it didn't take long to dry out anyway.

The weather may have been the same as yesterday but I haven't said more than two words to anyone today.

There were two possible campsites for today but Mick hadn't had a reply from either of them, it was 14.45 when I got to the first one at Bradfield and it was behind, and part of, the pub.
There were plenty of pitches available but it was expensive at £18 for the night, I did manage to get it reduced to £10.

20 comfortable miles.

Mary, one of the two Barn Owl watchers I met yesterday had sent me an email saying she was going to try and get some publicity for me and when I checked my emails this afternoon there was one from Radio Essex asking me to phone them for a chat, so I did and had a live conversation on air.