Day 21 - Yomping out of Paglesham...

Well, we didn’t exactly yomp out of Paglesham this time but there was a spring in our steps as we retraced them, this time towards Essex Marina in bright sunlight and under a clear blue sky. This is Linda (right), enjoying the sunshine.


At least, there was a spring around until I got stung. I can feel it now, giving me goosebumps, as the insect (whatever it was) injected the soft flesh of my underarm (twice!) Praise God, I’d already taken an antihistamine tablet but, boy, did it hurt for a while…that was Thursday and today is Sunday and it’s still red and swollen with a lovely white line around it. Linda and I prayed over my arm and then we phoned Gerry and Margaret to ask them to buy some anti-bite or anthisan – and pray.

We kept going towards Paglesham Creek (left) and found our way across the edge of the field towards the road leading down to the Marina. Wending our way around past Creeksea Ferry Inn, we topped the sea wall and moseyed on down to have a look at the Marina bar, surrounded by dramatic boats of all sizes.

Gratefully, we consumed J20s and Belgian buns (well, if you’re interested, I had a Belgian bun and Linda had an Eccles cake). There we were also attacked by various forms of wasp so I retreated rapidly, finishing my bun standing up inside.

We were directed ‘down the ramp’ to wait for the Lady Essex III, a small ferry service I had arranged the day before with Gary, the skipper.

We sat on the quay in the sun, completely at ease with the world until I thought it might be a good idea to take a picture and Linda thought it would be a good idea to take a silly one – thanks, Linda!

The Lady Essex III would take five minutes to get us to the other side of the Crouch – to Burnham, where we were to meet Gerry and Margaret for lunch. When we met the skipper, he proved to be an imaginative character with imaginative ideas – ferry boat, taxi service, wildlife viewing and other various oars in various places. We chatted to him briefly as he took us over the Crouch to Burnham.

The Lord had gently nudged me to find out about the wildlife trips so I had picked up a leaflet in the Marina bar and found out that Gary was doing a trip on Saturday evening at 6 pm. The Lord continued to nudge me into pursuing this.

Meeting Gerry and Margaret at Burnham, we all concluded that this side of the river was very different from the Essex Marina side. At lunch, we discussed the possibility of going on the Saturday evening wildlife trip. Linda and Margaret couldn't do it, so Gerry and I agreed we would book two places. Gary seemed pleased when I phoned him to confirm.

After lunch, Linda and I made for the sea wall again and as we walked, we prayed for Gary's business. We felt we should pray for him to prosper and as soon as we finished, he phoned me back to say he'd forgotten something but dropped into the conversation that since I'd spoken to him at lunchtime, he'd had six phone calls booking for the Saturday evening trip. Wow, God!

This sea wall walk was glorious! We couldn’t have had better weather – warm, sun shining with a soft sea breeze. The view over the Crouch and Roach rivers was stunning and inland, the white corn waved in the breeze. It really is white, you know – although this picture was taken the week before in the dull weather, the corn head colour is clear.

We thanked the Lord for such a beautiful day, feeling rather like the lilies which don’t spin and yet are so reminiscent of God’s glorious kaleidoscope - jasper, sardis and emerald.

On then, towards Holliwell Farm and Monksale to meet the only footpath inland for another 6 miles. After walking through some difficult spots with nettles and long grass, along a path that had not been cleared for some time, we arrived on a gravelled road, which was later tarmacced. The flatness stretches for miles - a wild and lonely place, the only height being trees and the sea wall. The wooden boarded houses are upright (as you saw at Paglesham) with roofs sloped like the long low Dutch houses you often see. This one is a good example - a beautiful little cottage.

I love this land!

We had decided to do the big seawall walk to Bradwell Marshes on Monday despite the rainy forecast - with Gerry and Margaret in the car. If we complete that one, Gerry can join us on the National Trail towards St Peter’s on Tuesday.

The 'gentle' objective the Lord gave me to reach Bradwell by August Bank Holiday is almost achieved. Praise God!