Coastwalk

Gedney Drove End → Holbeach St Matthew

Distance: 6.29 miles
Ascent: unknown
Duration: 1 hour 57 minutes

Kings and winds
« Sutton Bridge | Fosdyke Bridge »

The weather forecasters, they lie. They said that today the winds would be much gentler than yesterday. I repeat: weather forecasters lie. They told me heavy showers would be a dominant feature of the day. Not a drop fell on me. They lied.

My planned walk was brief today, but since I'd cut yesterday's short I wasn't at the right starting place for it. Still, spurred on by a brighter day and an early start, I covered thirteen miles and completed both yesterday's and today's planned distance. This puts me within reach of Fosdyke Bridge - one more circular walk of about fifteen miles and I'll be back in civilisation.

The majority of today's coastpath crossed RAF Holbeach, perhaps the only part of The Wash that isn't a nature reserve. Instead, it provides target practice for the Air Force.

I still don't understand The Wash. It's not an estuary, nor does it seem proper to refer to it as a bay. I feel I ought to be able to come up with some useful facts, but Geography was my worst grade at school. Instead I'll remind you that crossing The Wash, the King (which one I don't know; I dropped history) is said to have lost the Crown Jewels here. There's a lot of ground to cover if you hope to find them.

Inland I found another lost King hiding in the nettles on the roadside. It brought a smile to the face which has spent the day cursing the weather forecasters.

Back at the car though I had to plead forgiveness. The weather forecasters were right, you know. As soon as I got my boots off the first heavy shower descended.