Saturday 7th October ‘23 DH, TO, BFS, AC, DL, JB, CH & Albus
After a few weeks travelling through France, Spain & Portugal it was good to welcome Trevor back to the group this week, and it looks like he has very kindly brought the Iberian weather back with him. (Obviously far easier than bringing back a box of biscuits for us to share on the walk).
The day started off a bit misty and cool as we gathered in the car park of Yandles wood merchants in the Hurst area of Martock, with Dereyk being the only one brave enough, or confident enough that shorts would be the best options for today. Brian & Adrian certainly didn’t get the memo (or check the forecast) as they insisted that it was ample cool enough to wear a gilet for the 2 hour walk ahead. John had driven down separately in his van as he would not be staying on for breakfast afterwards, opting instead to get back to the surgery in Wincanton in time for his Covid jab.
We last came this way through the Fields of Gold on the late Bank Holiday weekend in May ‘21 and so as it was a new one for all but three of us, I opted for the same anti-clockwise loop again. We headed out of the yard over the bridge and took an immediate left turn onto a section of the Macmillan Way link path, past some well stocked allotments and with the Hinton Meads Brook flowing on our left side. The path was well walked but narrow and the long grass was very wet from the morning dew as we made our way through a number of gates past the sewage works and judging by the smell, towards a very large chicken farm.
The mist and thin clouds were burning off quickly and soon the sun was shining bright in the morning blue skies. A diagonal path across a large field of cows brought us to our first unusual and challenging obstacle. The barrier was a large construction of scaffolding sized uprights and widely spaced cross members and a variety of crossing options were demonstrated (although Brian paused as he realised we were watching his gate vault attempt) before Adrian amazed us all by cooly slipping off his rucksack and just straddling over one of the lower horizontal bars. Our path forward was across a diagonal of a large field again but this time with a herd of gypsy style ponies at the far end who thankfully took no interest in us at all. Another large gate was crossed in similar style and then it was over a narrow bridge with a large willow tree growing alongside and around the edge of the field to exit onto the road alongside the River Parrett at Gawbridge Bow.
We turned left along the road and whilst waiting for the tailenders to catch up, took a look at the river from the bridge. The water level was quite low exposing a large grassy island on which someone, probably as a peer challenge, had landed an empty beer can which really spoilt the look. On closer inspection of the area it was clear to see that much of the underwater vegetation was covered in a thick film of silt, no real surprise with all the agricultural land around the area and the slow run on the water. Whilst we waited Adrian produced a new bag of confectionery goodies with a good choice of lollies, drumsticks and chews.
We set off along the minor but busy road towards the Grade II Gawbridge Mill, a wonderful group of buildings dating from around the 18th century. The main building is three stories high and passing underneath is the mill race which powered the mill consisting of a multitude of machinery powered by an iron wheel, which is said to be in particularly good condition. For those wishing to ”move to the country”, this 5 bedroom property is on the market currently for a respectable £700,000. The on line estate agents brochure (GTH) certainly shows a very respectable interior and attractive gardens. Built into the wall by the entrance gates, but harder to see than usual, was a post box from King George V era, installed sometime between 1910 & 1936. It is no longer used by the Post Office but taken into private use and painted a dark shade of grey. Note - a George VI post box (1936-52) would have a small VI somewhere near the cypher.
As the road veered away from the river we entered a small wooded area which took us right by the river bank and out into a large expanse of floodplain fields, which interspersed with gates, stiles and a narrow bridge took provided our footpath for the next half mile or so. A sharp left turn took us through another gate and into a crop laden field and onto a section of the River Parrett trail. There was a bit of debate about the exact crop growing beneath the dark green leaves but the general consensus had it as sugar beet, a regular crop for agriculture feed in Somerset, whilst in other areas it is refined into white sugar. The field was a substantial size and no doubt a few tons would be harvested before the winter. To put this field into some context, the global harvest of sugar beet in 2020 was over 250 million metric tons, the largest producer being Russia, (that was when the peasants were farming and not fighting)! Thankfully a well worn path took us through the crop as we made our way towards Carey’s Mill Bridge. Having not managed to take our group photo as we munched on our earlier candy (good name for a dog?) , I managed to move to the end of the extended line formation we had worked ourselves into and took our first ever moving selfie. Not quite as successful as a stationary one , but have you ever tried stopping an advancing army with just an iPhone for a camera?
As we exited the field through one of the tightest gaps we have ever encountered we could hear the siren of an emergency vehicle approaching, then through the trees blue lights were spotted approaching. So being wholly responsible gentlemen we stood to the side of the road as an ambulance negotiated the bend and bridge and sped off into the distance. We passed the Range cafe and turned right along the high wall of the Parrett works site. It was along the next section of the walk through empty fields that we became well strung out for the first time today and as we paused for Adrian & Dereyk to catch up we became aware that Adrian had noticed a bit earlier that his electronic muscle simulator (his FES) which assists with his walking was no longer doing its job, in fact it was no longer hanging off of his trouser belt as it should be. Adrian was a bit unsure as to where it might have parted company with him, but was certainly in no position to turn around and retrace his steps in the hope of finding it in the long wet grass or by the side of some gate or stile. All he knew was it would be a difficult conversation when he got home later.
Having crossed the road, being careful to avoid a group of cyclists, the last part of the walk was back along by the brook and into Yandles‘ yard bang on 11.00 having completed 3.65 miles. John bid farewell as he left for his jab and with dogs not permitted inside the cafe those remaining took a large table near the doorway and headed inside to place our orders for Table B. A staggered service saw Brian finish his before the last ones had even arrived at the table but that didn’t stop it being another good breakfast and indeed morning out.
Post walk Note - It was only about 15 minutes after getting home that the buzz of the phone signalled an incoming WhatsApp message from someone in the group. It turns out that when Adrian got home , fearful of the reaction he would get from Ruth about the missing FES, that it had actually been left on the table at home all along and he had completed the walk totally unaided. Maybe he has got so used to having it that he didn’t actually notice when it wasn’t there! Thankfully all‘s well that ends well and a few pounds saved from the NHS budget now a replacement is no longer required. You’ve got to laugh!
Comments