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To Fingringhoe! …for a second Sunday running as well.

Cripes.

Anyone would think that A Year in Wivenhoe was about to experience a geographical time shift and become A Year in the UK Location that Comes a Close Second to Cockermouth as Having a Rather Rude Name.

Pity poor @AnnaJCowen. The Girl has a hometown of Cockermouth, and now experieces weekend flings in Fingringhoe. We’ll be holidaying at the Hole of Holcrum next.

But anyway – about that bicycle ride across to Fingringhoe…

Having skipped Sunday Service at St Mary’s, we weren’t quite ready to walk on water. Neither was the Wivenhoe – Rowhedge – Fingringhoe Ferry, either. High water was here, but the fine ferry wasn’t.

No worries – it’s only a minor circumnavigation down towards the Hythe, back up to the badlands of Rowhedge and then a final country lane freewheel all the way to Fingringhoe.

The Girl was sold on the idea, if not the execution. Five hours later and we arrived in Fingringhoe, just as the sun was setting and with no escape route back across the muddy banks of the Colne.

Well – not quite…

I had forgotten about my off-road cycling tendency to stop and do the photography thing en route. “It’s not about the destination, but the journey,” as I reasoned with @AnnaJCowen after composing a photograph of a cowpat for the fourteenth time.

The freedom of cycling allowed us to explore some of the sites (seriously) between the Hythe and Fingringhoe. This was possibly the last weekend when the rough track out towards Rowhedge is actually passable by bicycle.

We took the time to take in the historic Hythe Heritage Hoardings by the banks of the Lighthouse boat. My interest in all things Hythe historical continues to grow. The public art by the banks of the Colne only served to feed this fascination.

The shards of grass by the abandoned Coldock soon gave way to cow shit once we reached the Colchester Lagoons. A hit and miss river divides the relative ease of passage provided by the Wivenhoe Trail and the almost mythical Lagoons that line the other side of the Colne.

“I would love to see an adder,” remarked the Girl. Bad luck. What about a one-eyed trouser snake instead, luv?

Thought not.

The Lagoons were as mucky as my mind. We ploughed on, with tea being taken at the Rowhedge Heritage Hut. The carrot cake comes highly recommended, as does the hyperlocal gossip that we overheard from the nearby table.

Well I never.

With the beasts back between our legs, it was a quick cut through towards Fingringhoe, avoiding all adult humour (yeah, right…) and soon we arrived at destination Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve.

It is hard to believe how this site of natural beauty was a quarry some fifty years ago. The natural habitat soon colonises the environment, leaving the perfect, peaceful viewing point upon which to waste an afternoon looking up the estuary towards Brightlingsea and beyond.

The Nature Reserve is simply a superb facility. It has quickly risen up our list of Things That We Absolutely Love About North Essex. The Co-op wine section is going to be difficult to displace though.

I was alarmed to read that most of Essex is slowly sinking. Ah, but how slowly is a relative concept, Comrades; it is also one that I wasn’t prepared to entertain with a weak bladder whilst out on Fingringhoe Wick.

The car park appeared full, yet the Nature Reserve is of a size where you can walk around and not encounter a single soul. We hid away in the bird watching hides. I opened up a flap and pondered putting on a Punch ‘n Judy show for the tits.

“Look! That could be a shag!” exclaimed the Girl.

Seriously?

Mmm. Thought not.

Tail between my legs and with bruised skies, we took to the bicycles and made the return ride back through Rowhedge, the Hythe and up the Trail towards Wivenhoe.

A weekend hat trick of Fingringhoe visits would appear excessive. After all this energetic activity with a lady friend, a fella needs a rest. There’s talk of a trip out to Brown Tongue next month. Best wear my cycling waterproofs.

Full flickr feed.

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