Fri 30 Mar (Good Friday) - Benfleet to Southend walk

[MrSpikey]

Best of luck to those doing this tomorrow, it's a lovely walk (although likely quite muddy at the start, depending on the route you're taking).

Despite being a local, I won't be joining you as I'm working during the day, although if I get the chance, I'll pop down to the Railway and try to play spot-the-Urbs once I've finished.

 

[Stig]

no sleeps!

I'm not going to be meeting up with you at Fenchurch street after all, it looks like I'm much better off getting the overground from Crouch Hill and joining the train at Barking.

Save me a seat!

 

[han]

Blue Nun is in bed with a lurgy so not coming , however, I'm on my way despite white wine hangover

 

[Treacle Toes]

Well done Han and Stig. We are enjoying a hotel big breakfast. Just need to throw our stuff back in a bag and get in the car.

 

[eme]

On my way

 

[han]

Well done Han and Stig. We are enjoying a hotel big breakfast. Just need to throw our stuff back in a bag and get in the car.

Ha, I see what you did there. I thought 'Drug' might be Stig's new nickname, but it was your predictive text, lol!

 

[Miss-Shelf]

I'm getting the train from West ham. It's not the most exciting station in the world. I am here already. As I'm usually late I don't know how to wait

 

[Maggot]

scifisam, it would be great if you want to meet us. As alsoknownas says you could meet us in Leigh, and then take the train for another couple of stops to Southend when we head there. It's got the advantage that we can probably predict our arrival in Leigh with more certainty, whereas our arrival time in Southend will depend a bit on the length of our pub stop(s) in Leigh.
Hey, people might even want to visit the Old Leigh museum (though that won't take up much time. )

Am quite tempted to do this. Especially as there's such a lovely bunch of people on this walk. Do I get the train to Leigh on Sea?

 

[zora]

Am quite tempted to do this. Especially as there's such a lovely bunch of people on this walk. Do I get the train to Leigh on Sea?

Yes please that'd be great! Timing-wise, maybe aim for 1.30pm/2pm. Bit tricky to say when exactly we'll get there, but if we're a bit later you won't have any trouble whiling away a little bit of time there having a look around or sipping a quiet pint.

 

[zora]

if I get the chance, I'll pop down to the Railway and try to play spot-the-Urbs once I've finished.

Oh, a mystery urb, do come along! It's been said that we're pretty easy to spot.

 

[Maggot]

Yes please that'd be great! Timing-wise, maybe aim for 1.30pm/2pm. Bit tricky to say when exactly we'll get there, but if we're a bit later you won't have any trouble whiling away a little bit of time there having a look around or sipping a quiet pint.

Will keep in touch by text.

 

[stethoscope]

I'm getting the train from West ham. It's not the most exciting station in the world. I am here already. As I'm usually late I don't know how to wait

Times like this I really miss no longer living near there. Have a great walk

 

[hash tag]

Don't know what it like for you guys, but it's persisting heavily here and likely to do so for the next few hours. I'm going to get drenched on my way to the station even before getting away in holiday

 

[mango5]

We dunnit
MrSpikey better get to the Railway Hotel sooooon cos we are eyeing up the train leaving in 15 mins

 

[zora]

Hardcore posse still here for a bit!

 

[colacubes]

Well done people

Sorry we bailed early but the dog was very pissed off and soggy She was a bit happier once I dried her off when we got on the train but still shivered most of the way home (we’ve just got back).

Anyway top walking, top people, top fun. Cheers alsoknownas for organising

 

[MrSpikey]

We dunnit
MrSpikey better get to the Railway Hotel sooooon cos we are eyeing up the train leaving in 15 mins

I ended up stuck at work for hours longer than expected. Hope everyone had a good day and the weather wasn't as awful as it looked.

 

[han]

Thanks alsoknownas for organising that - it was a fab walk - I enjoyed the day so much. Epic, and unforgettable

Lots of variety in the walk, excellent company of course, great pubs, and biblical weather. Hot chips taste so good when eaten in torrential rain under a flyover, don't they?

 

[han]

How was your evening? Good ol' dancing session had by all?

 

[alsoknownas]

Top walking action. Mud and rain certainly did not dampen my spirits. A nice and very varied squelch in excellent company. Extra juice to eme , who literally went the extra mile (or two) by herself.
Enjoyed a smashing pie at the Railway. Well earned grub and pint does taste that bit better!

How was your evening? Good ol' dancing session had by all?

Southend ska rave experience had to be called off unfortunately. Once people got to mine, they predictably got over-comfortable (plus there was some mood-breaking news (nothing too serious hopefully) from elsewhere that kept us out of full party vibe too).

Much as I'm enjoying the acclaim, I should point out that zora was really Organiser-In-Chief, and I was (as in all things) her able lackey. My ability to hold a laminated sheet the right way up while guessing more or less correctly which way to go, must have seemed very convincing.

 

[mango5]

Top walk, great turnout and good cheer in rotten weather. Thanks zora and the rest of y'all sorry to miss you MrSpikey better luck next time

 

[Maggot]

That was a great 'walk'. Impressed by the dedication and the turnout.

Thanks to zora and alsoknownas for organasising.


Loved the Railway Hotel, especially the food.

 

[mango5]

Yes that was a fantastic final pub with hearty vegan grub suitable for omnivorous In the top 5 veggie meals I have ever eaten. Good atmosphere too.

 

[zora]

What a fun day! Special thanks to eme for Easter eggs, han for photos and Rutita1 for the prescient present of a pair of toasty warm waterproof socks - omg amazing!
Thanks all for coming and being such brilliant company in the soggy conditions.
More walks soon, please.

 

[klang]

Yes that was a fantastic final pub with hearty vegan grub suitable for omnivorous In the top 5 veggie meals I have ever eaten. Good atmosphere too.

Railway Hotel is great. My mates run it. They recently had a scare and almost had to hand over the lease to somebody else, but luckily managed to hang on to it.
They are great musos too and run a quirky recording studio in the basement. Worth asking to see next time you are there!
I've played gigs there a few times, ad they treat the bands very well.
it's the sort of boozer I'd love to have in locally in London!

 

[klang]

shame I couldn't attend the walk, would have loved it.
somebody pls tag me next time!

 

[MrSki]

Much as I'm enjoying the acclaim, I should point out that zora was really Organiser-In-Chief, and I was (as in all things) her able lackey. My ability to hold a laminated sheet the right way up while guessing more or less correctly which way to go, must have seemed very convincing.

Don't undersell yourself too much. Remember you organised a piss up in a brewery.