Let's make a trip to Heybridge Basin where I hope that firm paths will reduce the likelihood of muddy walking. Let's meet at Ashingdon and East Hawkwell Community Hall by 9.45am ready to car share (which should include sharing the cost of petrol and car parking). Taking perhaps 45 minutes to get there, we will park in the Daisy Meadow car park. There we will do a very level circuit of perhaps two and half miles, walking back inland along the canal (Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation) as far as the footbridge, which we will use to emerge on the north side of the estuarial River Chelmer, with the wide estuary on our right, vistas to the open sea ahead, and a very naturalised bird inhabited gravel pit lake to our left. Arriving eventually back at Heybridge Basin we will cross the sea lock to tarry awhile in the Tiptree owned cafe with outdoor seating looking across to Northey Island. (It also has seating indoors if it is cold.) Expect to arrive back in Ashingdon by 1pm.