Log No 335. Wed 4th Jun 2014 - Bradfield to Ipswich, 27 miles (5186 miles walked)

It started raining at 05.00 and the forecast was rain for most of the day, just what I needed when it was going to be a long day and nearly all on footpaths.

There wasn't much wind and the rain wasn't heavy but I definitely needed waterproofs.

I was away at 07.00 and got back on the Essex Way footpath into Manningtree where I followed the riverside footpath to the road bridge and crossed over the River Stour into Suffolk.

There may well be a Suffolk Way but the footpath I got onto was called the Stour and Orwell Walk and I intended to follow this most of the way to Ipswich.

I was thwarted very early on when, walking by the railway line, I saw a path closed notice due to work on the line. I got back onto a road at Brantham.

I had been going for over 2 hours and was needing to take the weight off my legs but there was nowhere suitable in the rain.

Just before I came to Stutton I met Len and stopping to chat to him picked me up, I've said it before but these brief encounters act just like a 10 minute sit-down break.

Coming off the road I took tracks to get onto a back road and the S&O Walk route. Still no sign of a seat anywhere until I came by St Peters Church where I gratefully plonked myself down on the seat next to the main doorway.

I was just about to bite into a sandwich when Elaine & Barry came in, Elaine asked if I realised I could go in the church and make myself a hot drink, I hadn't seen the notice on the gate and Elaine made me a drink of tea so I had my break sat by the font. Thanks Elaine.

It was still raining but for all that I was enjoying the walk and the solitude. I went by the impressive Royal Hospital School and then I was back on footpaths through fields.

To cut down the time and mileage I took a straighter route where the S&OW deviated too much and I turned off by the church at Erwarton to get to the footpath on the bank of the Stour. It was 12.10 and there was a handy bench for me to take my second break.

Shotley Gate is at the junction of the two rivers Stour & Orwell, the mouth of which forms Harwich Harbour with Harwich on the south entrance and Felixstowe on th north.

The footpath along the bank of the Orwell was the S&OW again and I had it all to myself, only meeting anybody when I reached the riverside pub at Chelmondiston, it was 14.45 and I stopped here for a pot of tea.

The rain had finally ceased when I came out of the pub and I shed the waterproofs.

There was still 2 hours walking to do but, surprisingly, I was still feeling good.

I could see Orwell Bridge ahead of me, high over the river but the route now came inland a little bit until near the bridge.

The bridge carrying the A14 was non-stop traffic and very noisy, getting across to the other side I got back down to the river and followed the S&OW for the remaining half an hour to get to the campsite at Orwell Meadows for 17.15 where Mick had been offered a complimentary pitch for me.

27 miles in just over 10 hours on mainly footpaths had been good going, I was having a much shorter walk tomorrow but I was going to have an early night and a lie-in in the morning.