During the #TheCoastlineRunner initiative I don’t listen to music as I run, I listen to our environment instead, but in my head this time was 'Cucurrucucu Paloma’ (by Caetano Veloso) and I recommend you click here, start listening and then read on.
Why this song?
To say goodbye to the wonderful coast and people of Norfolk (with its seals, sanderlings and shingle) and embark on the Lincolnshire Fens was exciting, but tinged with regret at turning my back on the beautiful Norfolk coastline.
Starting from Sutton Bridge, where Norfolk ends and Lincolnshire begins, being given delicious water by Helen and Pippa at Pippa’s Pantry (photographed right and Link here ‘LH’)
I ran down the River Nene to The Wash, then turned North West at ‘Tycho Wing’s Channel’ (LH) and then left again up the River Welland to Fosdyke.
a) Short thought and 10 points: My 'Morton’s Neuroma' (LH) is crippling in my left foot and slows me down, meaning that I have to combine running, hobbling and walking – I am buying new running shoes and seeing podiatrists to try and solve the problem – but it is seriously affecting the mission… for stretch 11 (tomorrow) on World Oceans Day, I will be the ‘Coastline Hobbler’ until my new shoes arrive (LH)!
Start: Sutton Bridge, (lh), at 13:30 after presenting the Norfolk Chapter Report to the Mayor of Kings Lynn and interviews with BBC Radio Norfolk (photographed)
Finish: Fosdyke bridge (lh)
Distance: 30 km
#TheCoastlineRunner initiative total distance: 225 km (195 km + 30km in S10)
How arrived: bus to Sutton Bridge from Kings Lynn
How departed: Car from Fosdyke for family commitments
S10 CO2e emitted: total CO2e emitted for this #TheCoastlineRunner endeavour is estimated at 320 kgs of CO2e (200 kgs + 120 kgs this stretch, using this for calculations)
Plastic rubbish/trash observation: Maybe due to Lincolnshire County Council managing the Wash toe paths there was little litter needing collection. McDonalds cups and containers, plastic bottles and cigarette ends.
Marine litter: one large container - some ropes and bits of polystyrene container. Consumer litter: crisp packets, McDonalds cups, balloons, sweet wrappers and 1 dog poo bag.
Shoreline plastics litter collected: by the end of S10 50 kgs collected and correctly disposed of.
b) Short report:
The Mayor of Kings Lynn, Cllr Lesley Bambridge waved me off after interviews with BBC Radio Norfolk (photographed left and right) and presenting the Norfolk Chapter Report'.
I ran an approximate 31 km, mainly on “The Wash-line” rather than the shoreline this time, because the marshes are not that safe when you are alone.
I started near the Cross Keys Bridge – a swing bridge that was built in 1897.
As Griffmonster wrote, three years ago here:
“Once one is out in the wilds, there is no chance of public transport, no pubs, no shops, no civilisation… The flat landscape leaves one exposed to the elements, especially on the raised sea banks …“. This was my experience. Little was visible but.........
microplastics have been found in the river water of the Nene, by researchers from We Swim Wild.
Along the river, I headed to The Wash – originally a vast expanse of marshes, reclamation started in the 16th century (largely steered by a Dutch engineer) to make this area safe for travellers (and drovers) to pass safely over the marsh. The Wash collects somewhere around 15% of Great Britain’s water and is host to the country’s second largest inter-tidal mudflats- they are vast and the huge expanse of saltmarsh supports thousands of birds all year round, and it is also one of the best breeding areas in England for common seals.
The woodland adjacent to the car park of Moulton Marsh used to be a refuse tip. Read more about the reserve here.
I hobbled through the RAF Holbeach Air Weapons Range.....and...
.....I saw this! I was hobbling….does that count? Stretch 11 is tomorrow, on World Oceans Day, from Fosdyke to Boston.
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