Farnham to Bramley (April 13th)

18.7 miles, started fine and gradually became overcast with continuous light rain.

So a late start to the year and i really need to get some miles in. I managed to get an early train so arrived in Farnham in good time, i soon walked to the town center and headed south west along the high street to pick up a small road towards Crondall. I was soon warm and plodding along nicely enjoying being in the countryside on quiet roads, a few miles ticked away and as i entered Crondall there was the first bus shelter of the year.

Crondall turned out be a very picturesque village with a shop open for a snack, who could ask for more. Heading out on the Itchel road i soon came upon a fine display of spring flowers indicating that perhaps at last spring is with us.

This road was really quiet and a joy till i spotted the track i planned to take to Rye common. Have we had any rain you may ask.

No problem, i will just have to make my way around the puddle as i have neither waders nor canoe. Going to right looked like a usefull field to use, this meant crossing a ditch, fence and remains of a hedge. This is where i took my first trip horizontal of the year which was relatively light hearted as no physical damage done, and i didn’t get muddy, but my right hand found some fresh stinging nettles which were keen to bite.

Once past the problem i found a way back onto the track and proceeded to Rye common with out further event and turned right towards Odiam.

Not to far along this road i came upon some Butterbur still in flower (this is normally a February/March plant), the butterbur is odd in that it flowers before growing huge leaves through out the summer, even more curious is that there is a species of moth that feeds on this plant and the caterpillars of the moth over winters in the root of the plant when all of the leaves have died, i’ve yet to see the moth but know a man who has.

Odiam is a very pretty country town and there are plenty of buildings worthy of a photo. I rested in the high street with one of my sandwiches and a take away cup of Coffee (slightly odd as i asked for tea). It was now a case of find the road towards North Warnborough and on to the (A287) to cross the motorway and head for Newnham, so a short spell of traffic noise which soon passed before i crossed the mainline railway and headed for Rotherwick.

Plenty more quiet lanes but there was a definite mist in the air which was getting heavier with time. Soon out of Rotherwick a disappointment occurred.

The path i  had planned to walk alongside a stream was partially closed. Apparently, foot bridges being replaced, well all is not lost it looked like moving a bit further by road i could pick up the path beyond the closure. What followed is a bit of a mystery as i had navigated fine to this point, but when i tried a short cut i ended up in a paddock of goats next to house that wasn’t (!) on my map, back tracking and going further along i must have interpreted a lane wrong as i suddenly got the feeling some thing didn’t seem right, there was no sun just cloud cover but from the brightest part of that cloud cover i suspected i was on a wrong heading, fancy getting the compass out so early in the year which confirmed my suspicions.

Oh well, no great  harm done, i reached Hartley Wespall to find another bus shelter where a back of rest was in order while i sorted the problem. I soon returned back down to near mill farm and took the right path across fields  i had been concerned about the amount of surface water that may be near a stream but there was some which i circumnavigated with little problem. Felling happy this would be the soft underfoot path all the way to Bramley green i was feeling happy even if the rain had returned persistent if not heavy and it was border line as to whether is should don the water proofs which i didn’t really want to do as i was already plenty warm enough.

Hopes somewhat dashed as i crossed the (A3) only to find another path closed set of notices, the answer was easy, take the short trip on (A3) to Sherfield on Loddon and then small roads to Bramley station which worked out fine though a field route would have been nicer. Just to confirm i’m way out of practice my legs were losing enthusiasm for the last couple of miles so more practice soon is firmly on the to do list.

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