Essex Man Does Walking

Time to get back into shape, the rains seem to have stopped, been going for months!

The plan is to do two 5 day hikes later this year rather than my usual 9 day. The first one will be the Isle of Wight coastal path, the second is yet to be decided.

So a warm up walk today, just to see how unfit I have become over the winter period.

Roughly 12 miles. Quite blowy at first walking down to the estuary. Had to put on my mac to keep the wind off as it was quite cold. On the coastal path I think I met one other person in total, very quiet. Not too muddy either. Made it to Benfleet Station, considered getting the train home! Pushed myself on though, cannot be that unfit.

Heading up the hills through Hadleigh Castle Country Park certainly got the blood pumping. Slight nagging in one calf. Made it to the visitors centre and had a sausage roll and a coffee.

Walked into Hadleigh and through into Hadleigh Woods. Got a little lost but managed to get back on track and head into Belfairs Woods. The end was in sight now but I was certainly feeling it today. Got back, tired, aching but glad I had done it.