11. Ipswich - Stowmarket

Details:- This was a linear walk along The Gipping Valley Way, from Ipswich to Stowmarket. The path follows the river via man made cuts which were part of the old navigation system. The are still several locks along the way - all disused now. Distance:- 17 miles, which I did @ 4mph in 4hrs 15 minutes, the fastest that I have ever done a longer walk. Going:- very easy, and on a lovely sunny spring day. Map:- OS Explorers 197 & 291. Progress:- walked 133 - 367 to go.

Hyperlink to Photographs.

Sculpture....

....in the countryside - I'm starting to see more of it in the UK, and about time too. Not entirely sure about this though!

Snake in the water.

His head is on the left, and the ripples behind are caused by the motion of his body below the surface - doing the snake paddle I suppose. It's a great time for flora and fauna - the wild flowers are up and doing, and I saw a mink working a riverside boardwalk for signs of lunch. Little varmink!

River Gipping in Ipswich.

For a river that turns into the large Orwell Estuary downstream of Ipswich, it's a remarkably minor affair upstream, and up at Stowmarket is little more of a stream than a river.

Forgot me knots.

This is the best of the floral shots taken to-day. The poet Longfellow called the stars the forgetmenots of the angels. Hmmm.

Mills............

...........both ancient and modern are along the route. This, at Baylham is probably the most appealing of the lot.

Stowmarket Railway Station.

Perhaps Suffolk's finest station building; in an elaborate Elizabethan style, and built in 1849.