Sunday or day 6 as I called it saw Dolly and me drive out to one of the last places that I used to walk the wolf pack.
Our route to the start point had us pass through a Walpole Marsh that I no longer recognise.
It is not the fenland village that I grew up knowing. The prefab village hall now a bungalow. My godparents bungalow and small holding bares no resemblance to the home I used to play in and around.
The Wheatsheath pub that my grandparents (on Dads side) no longer standing. The old chapel that was next to it that had a mysterious appeal to me as a child.
The nursery that little Nan used to work at now bungalows.
Yes this Walpole Marsh is a stranger to me.
But our starting point for the walk is by the River Nene not far out of the village.
Start Point: TF 47009 18310
Distance: 3 miles
Total Distance: 22.94 miles
This first part of the walk along the bank of the Nene is where I used to walk the wolf pack. But like the drain walks it was always a there and back again. I never did the circular walk that I ended up doing today.
I think we were walking the right direction this time into the wind at the start with it being behind us, giving us a push along on the way back.
There are stretches along the bank where it is evident that rabbits are living. Whether it is the signs of the warren, very short grass (obviously eaten by rabbits), or the tell tale droppings.
With a sub station and gas power station in the local area, plus wind turbines on the opposite side of the river it really is hard not to be near or view a power pylon.
Back in the day when I was a scout I did a charity walk from the scout hut (now knocked down and built over in the expansion of the next door pet food factory) along the bank of the Nene up to the Sir Peter Scott lighthouse, then back over the Sutton Bridge swing bridge and back to Wisbech and the scout hut on the opposite bank.
Dad joined the scout group as a volunteer. He ended up looking after the tail end Charlie’s like me.
This was a massive walk for me. The first time I had walked such a distance, over 20 miles if I remember correctly.
It was Dad that wouldn’t let me quit as my feet started to hurt. He pushed me to finish. And I’m glad I did. Who knows I may recreate that walk one day.
We got to the point of the route where we turn away from the Nene. Pass what is now a series of small ponds, and head towards what used to be the nursery at Walpole Marsh.
At the outskirts of the old nursery boundary we cut across a field using the trodden path. Luckily the mud was firm underfoot.
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We then followed a farm track that ran parallel to the road through Walpole Marsh giving me and Dolly a great view of the back of the homes that make up the village.
I’ve never really seen this side of Walpole Marsh. When we walked Nan and grandads dog with them we used the main road from the pub to the nursery. But otherwise this route was similar to the one we did as a kid some fifty years ago. It was interesting seeing the gardens I have never seen before.
Our final section of the walk was on road with a side wind. Sadly this road is busier than all those decades ago. Now the road has frequent cars speeding along its uneven surface to and from the power plant.
I think Dolly was glad to finally get back to the car and out of the wind.
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