Walking around the very well laid out path through the West Essex golf course.
Slept rather fitfully if quite deeply at times, featuring odd dreams about hordes of birds coming to our feeders. Couldn't shake myself of the sleepiness so was quite a slow start.
Eventually set off on our Epping Forest short walk parking at the bikers' tea hut at the top of Fairmead Road as the car park in the (20-year-old) walk book was no longer available. Rather oddly the walk seemed to visit many of the spots we've been to before but in the opposite direction. Suntrap Education Centre - being refurnished/rebuilt when we passed last now finished; Gilwell Park scout HQ; and one of our favourite spots Yates Meadow with views over the Lea valley. Walked by and across West Essex golf course a couple of times and had to scurry quickly a couple of times out of the way of golfers about to take their shots.
Weather was cold but with a lot of sun and big fluffy white and grey clouds. Said clouds occasionally released a few drops and notably a big snow flurry towards the end. Ground seemed less wet and boggy than last week, but I did fall into a churned up muddy patch (not too damp) by getting my feet caught in brambles, hate those things. Birds were tweeting pleasantly and things were budding - blackthorn blossom gleamed nicely in the sun and darker moments.
Checked out the bikers' tea hut but the menu was very limited, no non-meat options other than cheese sandwiches, not even chips. Drove to High Beach instead where annoyingly the pub takeaway kiosk was closed. So seafood shack it had to be for a big seafood splurge.
3 good things
1. Oysters, whelks and a chilli prawn roll at the King's Oak seafood shack at High Beach.
2. A game of Trivial Pursuit at home with cake from one of the tea huts - Dave won, harrumph.
3. Karelian pasties for supper.
@happypat it looks like the sort of bag to have butties in - Dave's new pride and joy! He did regret not bringing snacks about half way through the walk...
@boxplayer When we were sitting waiting for our jab a man &; his wife came in & he had a man bag. I was interested in what he had in it & after a bit the wife had a root in it & brought out his wallet with the covid cards in…sadly I never got to know what else was in. Hope he’s learnt his lesson & next time a flask & something to eat Dave!!!
I love the daffodils on the side of the road and the wooden fence. looks fairly new.
Ian