John Ray Walk
We tried to walk the "John Ray Walk" which links the towns of Braintree and Witham, passes through the countryside of the River Brain Valley, the birthplace and home of John Ray. John Ray (1627-1705) was an English naturalist who laid the foundations for the classification of all living things, so he is also known as the father of British Natural History. The John Ray Walk is one of the environmental projects devised to celebrate his life and achievements, which is 9 miles long and the start/end point in both towns is the railway station.
It was a slightly cool and cloudy morning. How changable the temperature it is! I can't predict the change! At first we passed "the cut throat lane" which we found last time. The name of "cut throat" conjures up an image of some awful event which might had happened long, long ago.
Men wearing short running wear overtook us in the middle of the meadow and ran on quickly! It was quite funny. Later, on another lane, we came across them again, this time running back!
Grasses were moist with the morning dew or shower. Our trainers and trousers were soaked. It was uncomfortable, but we kept going.
We saw many holes of rabbits or foxes as well. We passed the muddy part and overtook a walking group of young students.
The signs of John Ray Walk were a bit complicated. We didn't have a map, so we depended on the sign, his experiences and our guesses. He found a big yellow fungus on a tree! It looks small in the following picture but it was the size of two hands!
We didn't walk all of the John Ray Walk this time, but walked about 2 hours and half. Instead of going to White Notley according the sign, we went to Silver End to have a rest. Silver End is a small village. Unfortunately we couldn't find a pub in the village centre, but a bus stop to Witham. So we got on a bus and went back home.
It was really a nice walk. We will walk the whole way next time, on a sunny day, with proper shoes. Don't forget to bring a bottle of water!
It was a slightly cool and cloudy morning. How changable the temperature it is! I can't predict the change! At first we passed "the cut throat lane" which we found last time. The name of "cut throat" conjures up an image of some awful event which might had happened long, long ago.
Men wearing short running wear overtook us in the middle of the meadow and ran on quickly! It was quite funny. Later, on another lane, we came across them again, this time running back!
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| Which way? |
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| fungus |
We didn't walk all of the John Ray Walk this time, but walked about 2 hours and half. Instead of going to White Notley according the sign, we went to Silver End to have a rest. Silver End is a small village. Unfortunately we couldn't find a pub in the village centre, but a bus stop to Witham. So we got on a bus and went back home.
It was really a nice walk. We will walk the whole way next time, on a sunny day, with proper shoes. Don't forget to bring a bottle of water!
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