Thank you to the team of Poly Ramblers who turned out to accompany the London Blind Ramblers on this refreshing and cheerful day. We had to change the date of the walk because of engineering works on the line which affected the numbers of participants from both groups. However, we were lucky in that the weather was extremely favourable and we enjoyed sunshine with a slight breeze as we strolled along the grassy path by the muddy banks of the Benfleet Creek where the occasional gull wandered about wondering where all the water had gone. We tasted aniseeds. I hope they were aniseeds or were they fennel? We mostly avoided the many cow pats. The cows were resting up in a field of dry straw over to our right, which didn’t look too appetising to me, which we debated as we went along! Perhaps I too would find it tasty if I had three stomachs! We passed Two Tree Island (a good place, depending on the time of year, to hear, observe and describe visiting Brent Geese, avocets and other birds as well as the gulls, if you don’t mind the noisy model aircraft or drones!). The tide was coming in, so by the time we arrived in Leigh-on-Sea we could hear the water lapping on the pebbles of the beach which was covered in adults and children making the most of possibly the last day of summer! On arrival in Old Leigh we went our various ways, some to the pub for food and drink where they were joined by Valerie, the LBRs group leader, some queuing for cockles, mussels, shrimps or crab, some to a seaside bench to eat our sandwiches in the sea breeze wafting gently across the River Thames from Kent. We still had time to queue for an Italian ice cream or two before carrying on along the narrow path, between the railway and the beach and sailing boats, to Chalkwell where Valerie and some others peeled off for the train.
The rest of us carried on along the Promenade, chatting all the time, weaving our way between families, pushchairs and dogs of all sizes, losing Jackie to the temptation to dip her feet in the waves, passing several cafés because the group decided they were still full up with ice cream, until we got to the Adventure Island Fun Fair and the Pier. After stopping so that I could watch the devilish device spinning masochists round and round, then up and over, which turns my legs to jelly just looking at it (I do hope the other Polys described to our companions what I was squealing, gasping and groaning about!), the group was ready for tea and cake, having walked 8 miles! Fortunately Patisserie Valerie was still open and willing to serve us. (We have noticed that other tea shops make a habit of closing before tea time!) I meant to take a photo of the cakes, tea cakes and scones but when the cups, teapots and plates arrived we pounced on them so enthusiastically that we had devoured the cakes before I remembered my photographic plan! So to the station and train back towards London, leaving the holiday atmosphere behind.
That evening the LBRs sent a kind message saying how much they enjoyed the walk and that it is “one of our members’ favourites and we do this walk every year. So please thank the Polys for making it such a success this year”. Obviously the weather and the company helped to make the day so pleasant. I hope we will be as fortunate next year!
Pam