3 men on a walk 2016: There and back along the River Medway

Wateringbury loop via Tovil and East Farleigh

It was hot yesterday and even hotter today with the forecast saying it could reach 32 to 33 deg C. OAP's don't want to be struggling up steep hills in that heat so Ivan devised an 11 mile route along the Medway valley but when plotted it turned out to be 14 miles !

Still, we parked up at Wateringbury and walked east along the Medway Valley path towards Maidstone. This a very pleasant walk alongside the river and we made good time. Our first issue was when we hit a "Path Closed" sign and had to find a detour through the houses to the Medway footbridge that was to take us across the river to the village of Tovil. We negotiated that OK but a mile or so further on yet another footpath was closed and we really had no suitable alternative. So getting the map out and looking at the time - approaching 1-00pm, lunchtime - and realising the temperature was well above 30 deg, we quickly made an executive decision and abandoned the original route in favour of walking down to East Farleigh (and The Bull Inn) and then picking up the Medway path again and reversing our walk back to the car.

The Bull turned out to be an ideal resting place from the midday sun and we repleenished fluids and then took on more for the journey back. For once we had a downhill section after lunch and when we reached the river turned west along the path. For a bit of variety when we reached Teston bridge we stayed on the north-side path (having used the south-side path on the outward leg) which made us feel a little better. By now the temperature had soared and we were very pleased to get back to the car and its air-con !