Moonfleet

Today we did the Moonfleet Walk. I so liked the sound of that. To be honest we only decided the actual route yesterday but my trusty friend , the good doctor, agreed it was suitably moderate for us with only gentle inclines. Perfect.

There is a bit of a story behind the need for a more gentle walk today. 2 weeks ago I went out with the Ramblers Association. 12 miles later I couldn't even walk. I returned with severely blistered feet. Not doing that again! Well good luck to them all - they were a nice crowd.

So, back to today. I spent time protecting my feet from any possible harm, layers of this, layers of that. Battle mode! Oh to be 50. When did I ever need to bind my feet? What is going on?

I wondered how we would manage the walk after we had a false start at the wrong car park. We only realised after we'd walked a bit! Too busy gassing to notice we were miles from the coast.

It was how I'd remembered it. 10 years ago we stayed right here at East Fleet and had the most magical time. Team GB in the London 2012 Olympics was a stone's throw away and I remembered the walks up to where the sailing was taking place. Today the lagoon, the tin huts and little coves all seemed familiar. When we stopped for lunch in a sheltered spot on the beach I could visualise a previous life, skimming stones, looking for fossils and laughing heartily. The empty ferry boats anchored with rope every so often bobbed up and down and it looked like an artist's paradise. It was odd how the sun shone directly on that small beach where we sat today - even as we looked back on it.

The Old Fleet Church. A feature of the novel that goes by Moonfleet. https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/108/1086485/moonfleet/9780099541127.html

I'm sure I've read it but I'm going to look at it again as today revived a fresh interest.

Approximately 6 miles. I think it was a good length. I'm going to stick to 6 or 7 miles going forward. It seemed longer, but at least I finished without feeling like I'd been to war.... that's got to be a bonus! Over our well deserved Americano we talked about planning walks to Hell. I'm assured it's very nice. Maybe I've been before ....!

A brilliant day it was; blue skies and great company.