Make hay while the sun shines they say. It maynot be very relevant in a country like India where sunshine is taken for granted, but in UK sunshine can make the diffrence between a sleepy weekend indoors or an active outdoor pursuit. And so it was that I was having my leisurely weekend sleep until 10:30 in the morning, and on waking I opened my window to gaze at the perfect weekend weather.
Since the weather forecast was for a rain day on the morrow, I decided to make the most of it and continue my cycling-birdwatching. However, this time I decided to stay clear of the MOD and head the opposite way. I`d been thinking of cycling to the Severn beach sometime and I decided that time would be today.
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And so, with a quick look on google maps to gauge my route, I set off on what would turn out to be close to 4 hours of cycling for about 24 miles back and forth!
The first few miles was along cycle paths on the road side, but that soon came to an end and I got onto the No 4 National Cycle network . The National Cycle network is a series of cycle paths connecting the entire UK and is entirely free of other traffic, except sometimes - horse riders!
Some of the route is quite scenic and leads past almost deserted countryside and I was able to see quite a few birds. The unique ones among them being a Coot, a Grey heron and a Kestrel.
Inspite of well posted signs along the cycle network , it took me a while to find my way. The fact that I have Google maps installed on my phone, helped me find my bearings, but having not charged my phone the previous night, I was soon out of battery and one wrong turn I`d be lost in the middle of nowhwhere.
However, inspite of a few wrong turns I finally ended up at severn beach. The beach is not really much of a beach as most of us would know it. Firstly it is not sandy but rocky and slushy, and secondly the water body is not a sea but an estuary - the Severn estuary. Well, my geographical knowledge was not that great so I was quite surprised to see the muddiest "sea" you`d ever see. The colour of the water was a dirty brown. However what really takes one`s breath away is the Severn crossing bridge- a bridge connecting England with Wales.
Having finally reached my destination, I was starving and tired. I hadnt anticipated such a long ride and hadnt even had breakfast! besides, it was really windy there and the chilly wind was getting to me. I would have liked to stay on and explore the place, but I thought it would be better on another occasion, when Im better prepared and thus I decided to turn back on a never ending ride back home.
There are many things to do along the severn. Bird watching is a popular hobby there and the severn beach is home to many unique birds. Besides that there is a unique phenomenon that occurs at the highest tides along the river Severn - called the Severn bore. The severn Bore is a tidal bore- in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave (or waves) of water that travel up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the current. As such, it is a true tidal wave or a mini tsunami. This video will give you a better impression.
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I hope someday I`ll be able to head back there and watch both birds as well as the severn bore. Until then I`m recouping from the incredible body ache that yesterdays cycling has caused!
