Day 135 – Harwich to Kirby le Soken: 15.0m: 5.5h

The Fryatt does not provide a cooked breakfast, and we were informed on check-in that their continental offering would be supplied in paper bags which would be left outside our doors at 7 a.m. When we reconvene shortly after 7:30 (Ben slightly late) for the drive back into Harwich, it’s not clear who has got the better out of this deal: Ben, Gary, John and Helen whose paper bags contained a not particularly fresh croissant, a mini jar of jam, and a small box of cereal with a cardboard bowl and some UHT milk, or Mike who didn’t get anything – there being no evidence of a paper bag when he opened his room door. Anyway, it’s clear that we’ll all need something more substantial during the morning, and equally clear when Helen drops us off around 7:45 that it’s unlikely to be acquired any time soon in Harwich. Helen therefore has to add this to her admin for the morning which is to drive to The Ship pub in Kirby le Soken (our destination today) to pick up John’s brother David and bring him to a pre-arranged meeting place along our route – hopefully around our ETA – so that he can join us on the remainder of our walk to The Ship. What could possibly go wrong?

There’s rain in the air again as we leave the quayside opposite the Pier Hotel. It’s only 5 or 6 miles to Kirby le Soken as the crow flies, but we can only be crows for the first couple of miles or so, along the sea front to the south of Harwich, before we have to divert inland towards Little Oakley and follow a series of paths, grass tracks and embankments, and a couple of quite busy minor roads, to get around the Hamford Water Nature Reserve. We’re somewhat relieved to leave the first stretch of road (no footpaths and heavy traffic – but at least the rain’s stopped) at a point to the south of Little Oakley which is where we’re due to meet Helen and David. Unfortunately, Helen’s still at Kirby le Soken waiting for David, so John suggests that the other three of us should carry on and hopefully he and David will be able to catch us up.

These hopes are realised, in part because Mike, Ben and Gary take a diversion to reduce the amount of time spent on the second stretch of road near a place called Beaumont, and we’re reunited just before we reach the south side of the Nature Reserve at Landermere Wharf. Hopes are also realised on the sustenance front – sausage rolls are available which Helen has managed to acquire. She is now on her way back to Kirby le Soken – a journey of around 10 minutes in the car. On foot, following the embankment which snakes alongside the Nature Reserve, it takes us just under 2 hours and we arrive at The Ship soon after 1:30. Plenty of time for a couple of drinks and sandwiches before saying farewell to David, and driving to Colchester station. John and Helen drop the rest of us there, and Mike accompanies Ben and Gary back to Liverpool Street to catch a train to Newark from King’s Cross. The date of our next trip, 21 July, is the date on which all remaining COVID related restrictions are due to be lifted. Watch this space…….