(Another area close to where I live that I hadn't explored before.)
This morning, I set off intending to do one of my regular local walks - along the coast to Herne Bay, inland to Herne, and back along lanes. I've been avoiding this section of coast for months now, because the sea wall between Whitstable and Herne Bay is popular with dog walkers and runners. But I thought the time had come to start returning to some sort of normality.
Before I left home, I checked the tide times and noted that low tide today would coincide with me being near what's described on the OS map as Tidal Pond. This is a large area of shingle islands that are exposed at low tide and I've often wondered if it's possible to walk out to them. Today seemed like the day to try!
While the OS map shows a possible circuit (with the islands being connected), the reality was different and there was only one way out and back on this occasion. Perhaps when the tide is at its very lowest...
The view from the sea wall:
Setting off. A little further on I came to a bit that needed splashing across. The tide wasn't fully out yet so I was confident I could return the same way if necessary:
A view from the outermost shingle island, looking towards Herne Bay:
As above, but from the easternmost tip:
This photo was taken at the point where I tried to work out if I could get back by a different route. I couldn't see a way, so I went back the way I came:
From here I could see that I'd done the right thing - there would have been quite an expanse of water to cross:
The bit I had to splash through out and back... but my Salomon Sandford shoes were up to the challenge!
And finally, a sort of watery maze back to the beach and the rest of my walk...
There really is nothing like a bit of variety when it comes to walking.