For years i’ve been walking with the Dover and Thanet Rights of Way Society. DATROWS for short. Most of their walks are five or six miles, too much for my ageing legs. I’ve led a few”leisurely” three mile walks. The schedule had me doing this today, Sunday May 24th. The lockdown has cancelled all walks. However i decided to do the walk anyway, to keep a connection with the group. I was joined by another member, Steve. We reckoned we could walk keeping at least two metres apart.
The walk was from Bridge, about three miles from Canterbury on the former A2, the Roman Watling Street heading for Dover. The village name derives from the bridge over the Nailbourne, an intermittent stream.
A pleasant Sunday morning, slight breeze and mostly cloudy. Across the recreation ground to Conygham Road. Under the A2 which now bypasses the village. A bridge across the Nailbourne: running water surprisingly given the current drought, through a field of sheep. Across a road, up through cereals. A short steep uphill on a minor road. Then woodland paths where we passed a few dogwalkers . On part of the North Downs Way next to the A2, quieter than before lockdown. A bridge over the A2, then a path between houses and the road and a final downhill on grass.
Naturally we chatted about this and that. Nature. Origin of placenames. Walking. Tried to describe the pleasure of being with a group who have nothing in common except a love of walking. Equality except for the need to follow the leader.
Photographed a Speckled Wood butterfly which posed on the path.
Recently i have been walking alone: good to have company.
Steve kindly gave me a bottle of Wantsum Brewery’s SS Richard Montgomery, an American sryle pale ale. Named after a ship wrecked near Sheerness which contains lots of high explosives.
Enjoyed the beer later at home.
Rambling Brummie 