Second visit to Tong Wood and Ellenden Wood about six km northwest of Canterbury. As countryside access warden, expected an easy walk along bridleways. Being used by horses and cyclists they are often wider and clearer than footpaths. Parked by Denstroude Lane for planned two mile walk. Usual worries about weather and fitness.
After gales and rain, calmer and sunny. Path began firm enough: gravel and old bricks. Puddles. Roar of wind in leafless trees, mostly beech. Marshy hollow. Old anthill. Molehills. More and more muddy. Bridleways are chewed up by hooves and wheels as well as feet. Heavy clay. Rider on a milkwhite steed. Path junction not quite as map. Turned sharp left following rider. Was i on right path? More mud. Figured if i kept going west i would meet another path heading south. Sun aided navigation. Relieved to find blue waymarkers at junction. Hadn’t gone astray. Tired of plodding through mud i cut short walk. Returned to car. One mile in one hour. Had shown the paths walkable needing no work from me.
Good to walk in woods. Many local woods have public rights of way and practically open access. One should see them in all seasons. Hard to see signs of spring when focussed on finding the route and staying upright.
Will need another visit to the paths i missed out.
Achieved what? Showed paths walkable. Suggested better waymarking at a junction. On way home bought seed potatoes and onion sets at meadow Grange nursery. Also coffee,
Muddy but unbowed.
Rambling Brummie 