The Anytime Daffodil Dawdle

 

With the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions the Norfolk and Suffolk LDWA group were unable to pout on their Daffodil Dawdle challenge walk as usual (and as I had done with Jane 2 years ago - see here). Instead, it was provided as an "anytime walk" with route and instructions downloadable from the website. Well I didn't walk it while the daffodils were blooming, but Joyce suggested we use it as a practice walk for the Orwell Challenge at the end of the month.

This was the invite... 

"Dear all,  Friday's weather looks good for our 20 mile walk. We will start from the Free Carpark at Cross Street in Eye at 8am or just after.  There are public toilets here too. There is a lot of field walking and through oil seed rape that is in full bloom….bring an anti histamine if you have allergies. You will get covered in pollen and maybe a bit wet from 'the stuff'.  The lunch stop is at Stradbrooke and there are 2 pubs there which may be open and a Spar shop that is definitely open. Please bring food and water with you.  Joyce."

This was our route, which was quite different from the 2019 one.

Starting in Eye, the route took us to Hoxne and then Stradbroke, sharing, on the first stretch some the Mid-Suffolk path we walked in 2019 (see here) and another walk from Hoxne .

Here are a few of my photos.

We were joined today by Julian's friends Andy and Simon who were planning on doing the Orwell Challenge with him

It was also their initiation into walking in Joyce's group. First up was wading through a field of oil-seed rape. "Can you see over it, John?" asked Joyce at one point. No. It was above my head height in places!

But soon we were on more pleasant paths.

I recognised this as we passed by the interesting looking Brome Hall farm and then the Hall itself. You can read a history of it here .

Oo look! There are still some bluebells blooming in the woods here.

I recognised these stables too.

We stopped for a drinks break at Hoxne village hall, admiring the references to the capture of King Edmund, including the relief of him under Goldbrook bridge. This is reputedly where King Edmund was captured by the Danes in 869/870.

"It was whilst hiding under the bridge that St Edmund was discovered by two lovers on the bridge, who noticed his armour glinting in the sunlight", or so the story goes.

 

This was a bit of a sneaky path. "Would you have spotted it, John?", asked Joyce. Hmm. I think I might have missed it.

We saw plenty of blossom along our way. I liked the pink tinge of this.

We arrives at the splendid All Saints, Stradbroke church...

...our lunch stop. But no, neither of the pubs was open. Never mind, we all were suitably provisioned.

Then it was onwards on the route back to Eye passing the fire station with its entertaining decoration.

We passed Thorpe Hall for a second time but never got a good view of it due to all the trees.

Earlier, we were given directions by the former ITV news presenter and commentator Stuart Jarrold. He said, "You'll be OK until about 2pm when it will rain". He was 40 minutes out - the rain came about 1:20pm.

I got my camera out from under my waterproof to photograph the village sign for Denham.

Not far to go now, but this path was a bit tricky...brambles on the left, nettles and a fence on the right (ow)...

Eventually we gave up and climbed over the fence to walk on the other side. Good move. This is what it looked like looking back from  the end. Path? What path?

Soon after we were back in Eye...

..and the car park where we started, a little damp, but in good spirits. We could have done without the rain for the last 1 1/2 hours of the walk, but at least it wasn't cold. Thank-you Joyce for leading us around and to the rest for the company - see you all on 27th June!

You can see more details of our route here on MapMyWalk and more of my photos here on Flickr.