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 Photographs
17-18: And on to... Clowes Wood
We are now approaching the steep incline into
Clowes Wood. As you can see, the wood starts with a band of
indigenous, deciduous trees... followed by a more recently planted
mix that includes conifers....
It's a steepish climb but a cool one on a warm day
in Spring...
Photographs
19-21: And on... to Clowes Wood
At the top of the hill, the cycle path veers to
the left.....
..... but I want to deviate
for a moment and take that unmade path to the right. It doesn't
stretch more than 40 yards or so before you are brought to an abrupt halt by
the private barrier below....
The reason for my diversion can be see by
peering over the gate...
Running parallel with the gate is the original
C&WR rail track. It's coming ever closer to our cycle path and
will soon merge with it.
Photographs
22-25: Getting Back on Track
Returning to the cycle path, we now emerge into a
more open but tree-lined environment......
After a few twists and turns....
... our route becomes as straight as an
arrow and it will continue as such for some time...
The reason, of course, is that the cycle path is
now running along the original track of the C&WR railway and,
if we look back over our shoulders, we can see how it happened.
The cycle path came down that curved slope to the
right and onto the straight stretch in the foreground. Meanwhile,
the old railway line emerged from the trees in the centre of the
photo - approximately where that narrow and overgrown path can be
seen.
Photographs
26-28: Looking Around the Old Line
The track is not only "straight" at this
point. If you peer amongst the undergrowth, you can see that it
also retains its original railway embankments. In the photo below,
you can catch a glimpse of a cyclist high on the track to the right and
see the swampy drainage gully to the left... complete with bull
rushes.
Whilst the track cuts a direct path, other options
do exist for the walker. There are several paths off to the left
(see below). These make their way to Gypsy Corner on the Tyler
Hill road.
It's becoming a long walk but, for some, there is
an answer....
This lady border collie is joining her owner for a
bit of a jog... but its hot. So, why bother going somewhere for
no other reason than to come back. Why not wait wait around
in the shade for events and your master to unfold around you? I
had a border collie when I was a kid. They're smart!!!!
Photographs
29-31: End of a Walk - at the Winding Pond
We have now reached our destination for the day (see
below).
The cycle way is about to veer off to the right to follow country
paths to St Thomas's Hill at Canterbury. The C&WR track will
continue straight on for a few hundred yards before being
terminated quite abruptly by a farm fence.
To the right of the photo is the entrance to a picnic area and, of course, the winding pond. In the
early days of the C&WR, trucks and carriages were hauled up
the Clowes Wood incline by cables and a static steam engine. The
pond provided the necessary water supply.
It's not the most attractive pond in the world...
... but from the right angle, it can look
pleasant....
Well, that's it for now... but we will back to
complete our journey to Canterbury in the near future.
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