With just three weeks to go to the start of the c2c walk, we had planned two days walking, and in fact three of us did three days walking. Val, Jenny and Heather walked 6 miles on Wednesday around Finningham and Gislingham with Bramble enjoying the rabbit smells, but catching nothing!!
Friday we had all planned to do 18 + miles, walking twice around Alton Water, with a start time of 8am. For family reasons Celia was not able to make it and Di, having just returned from holidays was able to join us for the second part of the walk.
It was hot and quite tiring, but a lovely walk with birds singing, an abundance of butterflies and May blossom.
At one point when we decided to rest a while and air our hot feet on a grassy bank, with boots and socks off, along came a grass cutter who needed to get to right where we were sitting!!
Back at the main picnic area, feeling very hot, we sat in the shade of a tree and ate our lunch, and then along came Di, fresh from her holiday and a lovely shade of brown, full of energy and eager to get started.
At the start of the second go round we were thinking that we just may not get going again and the thought of another 9+ miles in the heat of the day was not enticing. However, once we got going and Di related her holiday experiences we soon ticked off the miles. We were all flagging a bit at the end, but agreed that a short rest would have had us refreshed enough to do some more.
Saturday was a later start, 9am and we walked around Barham, Coddenham, Coddenham Green and Creeting St. Mary, about 12 miles in all. We had a full compliment, plus a guest walker for the day, Penny. The weather was hot but with a slight breeze when we got to the top of hills, which made for a good walk.
Feet and boots were checked and it was decided that a visit to the outdoor supplier was needed the very next day. Jenny and Heather bought new walking boots, shoes and sandles, so now they are walking around the house in clonking great boots and planning to notch up a few walks in the next couple of weeks. Val treated herself to new sandles and is thinking about boots!!! Even Penny treated herself to new boots.
It's a good job that the new type of boots available now are easy on the feet, and usually wear in quite quickly. All the old boots will be taken on the c2c just in case!!
Sunday 25 May 2008
Sunday 18 May 2008
16th & 17th May
Friday's walk was a bit of a wet one, well the grass and undergrowth was wet, with a little bit of rain plopping down every now and then, just to remind us that we are not always going to get lovely sunshine on our walks.
Di was on holiday somewhere hot, Celia was unable to join us, but we three held the flag high for the group and battled the weather and the few hills that we encountered!! Well little hillocks really.
We walked from Barham Green to Creeting St. Mary via Coddenham and Coddenham Green returned via Shrublands to Barham Green. About 12 miles in all.
Val started the day in the wrong boots, her old ones, and they leak, so a quick phone call home for Bill to meet us somewhere on the route for a quick change of socks and boots. Bramble was in full pelt, she loved the fact that she was out with her favourite people on another long walk.
During the walk we saw a scruffy looking fox who skulked off when it saw us.
Jenny has taken a couple of photographs and I shall upload them when she sends them over. There was some beautiful may blossom showing itself off, together with sheeps parsley that almost reached our shoulders (we are all a bit on the short side).
When we reached the A140 we were a little apprehensive about crossing this terribly busy road, but once across we found the most beautiful footpath between two fields, with high hedges either side of the path. There was some lovely bird songs to help us on our way, and Jenny heard her first cuckoo of the year. Although we did get wet from the foliage it was worth it, just to be in such a lovely place.
Lunch was eaten on a small track overlooking a valley, with farms in the distance in one direction, and looking in the other direction were the two busy roads of A14 and A140.
We got lost on Shrublands and felt bad about walking across their grounds, but the footpaths are not clearly marked.
I still have the mental view of Jenny doing a belly roll under a fence where there was no stile. The things you see when you haven't got a camera!!
On the way back my boots had decided to leak and I ended up with wet socks, boots and feet. They are still drying out. (Boots that is)
We enjoyed our walk and it didn't feel as if we had just walked 12 miles, so we decided that Saturday morning would be the time for another walk along the river at Woodbridge.
We started at 8.30 and walked for an hour, had a snack, turned around and walked back. It amounted to just under six miles, not a long walk but something to flex the muscles. There is a path all the way so the walking was easy, we also had a bit of rain but that didn't take away the fact that we were out in the fresh air with lovely scenery all around.
Di was on holiday somewhere hot, Celia was unable to join us, but we three held the flag high for the group and battled the weather and the few hills that we encountered!! Well little hillocks really.
We walked from Barham Green to Creeting St. Mary via Coddenham and Coddenham Green returned via Shrublands to Barham Green. About 12 miles in all.
Val started the day in the wrong boots, her old ones, and they leak, so a quick phone call home for Bill to meet us somewhere on the route for a quick change of socks and boots. Bramble was in full pelt, she loved the fact that she was out with her favourite people on another long walk.
During the walk we saw a scruffy looking fox who skulked off when it saw us.
Jenny has taken a couple of photographs and I shall upload them when she sends them over. There was some beautiful may blossom showing itself off, together with sheeps parsley that almost reached our shoulders (we are all a bit on the short side).
When we reached the A140 we were a little apprehensive about crossing this terribly busy road, but once across we found the most beautiful footpath between two fields, with high hedges either side of the path. There was some lovely bird songs to help us on our way, and Jenny heard her first cuckoo of the year. Although we did get wet from the foliage it was worth it, just to be in such a lovely place.
Lunch was eaten on a small track overlooking a valley, with farms in the distance in one direction, and looking in the other direction were the two busy roads of A14 and A140.
We got lost on Shrublands and felt bad about walking across their grounds, but the footpaths are not clearly marked.
I still have the mental view of Jenny doing a belly roll under a fence where there was no stile. The things you see when you haven't got a camera!!
On the way back my boots had decided to leak and I ended up with wet socks, boots and feet. They are still drying out. (Boots that is)
We enjoyed our walk and it didn't feel as if we had just walked 12 miles, so we decided that Saturday morning would be the time for another walk along the river at Woodbridge.
We started at 8.30 and walked for an hour, had a snack, turned around and walked back. It amounted to just under six miles, not a long walk but something to flex the muscles. There is a path all the way so the walking was easy, we also had a bit of rain but that didn't take away the fact that we were out in the fresh air with lovely scenery all around.
Sunday 11 May 2008
Friday 9th May
Jenny fresh from her trip on the QM2 + Bramble who had her holiday with Sara, joined Heather and Val for another walk around Alton Water. The reason we did this walk again was that we could let Bramble off the lead and enjoy a good stretch for just about all of the 9 and a half miles.
It was a very hot day and we started a little later than anticipated, however, there are lots of trees on this route so plenty of shade. As it was a working day for most people there were not many walkers or cyclists so our stride was not impeded.
On the part of the walk that not many people bother with (the other side on Lemon Hill Bridge), we came across a slow worm. None of us had ever seen on in real life before, can you believe that? Jenny got out the camera and Heather provided the boot as a comparison of size. A quick check on Google and it transpires, that this was a young female.
Off for some more walking on Sunday.
It was a very hot day and we started a little later than anticipated, however, there are lots of trees on this route so plenty of shade. As it was a working day for most people there were not many walkers or cyclists so our stride was not impeded.
On the part of the walk that not many people bother with (the other side on Lemon Hill Bridge), we came across a slow worm. None of us had ever seen on in real life before, can you believe that? Jenny got out the camera and Heather provided the boot as a comparison of size. A quick check on Google and it transpires, that this was a young female.
Off for some more walking on Sunday.
Tuesday 6 May 2008
Saturday 3rd May
Alton Water was the venue for Heather & Val on this lovely spring morning. We decided to walk the whole way round which includes the bit on the other side of the road. For some reason most people leave this off the walk, it only adds and extra mile and a half.
On this extra part of the walk someone had 'planted' a head of celery on the path, (wish we had taken a photo). Further along there was a large hand of bananas. We couldn't stand it any longer we had to ask some workmen (trimming trees) how it had got there. Apparently someone had thrown the food from their car as they passed, so they decided to have a bit of fun with it. It could only happen in Suffolk!
There were a number of cyclists on the path as well as joggers and a few walkers, usually it's pretty quiet, but I suppose that's because we normally walk this route during the winter months.
There were swans, ducks and geese on the water together with a few small sailing boats dotted about, what a lovely way to spend a morning.
By the time we had got almost back to the cars, it was getting quite hot and we were very tempted to soak our feet in the reservoir, but didn't just in case we were caught!
On this extra part of the walk someone had 'planted' a head of celery on the path, (wish we had taken a photo). Further along there was a large hand of bananas. We couldn't stand it any longer we had to ask some workmen (trimming trees) how it had got there. Apparently someone had thrown the food from their car as they passed, so they decided to have a bit of fun with it. It could only happen in Suffolk!
There were a number of cyclists on the path as well as joggers and a few walkers, usually it's pretty quiet, but I suppose that's because we normally walk this route during the winter months.
There were swans, ducks and geese on the water together with a few small sailing boats dotted about, what a lovely way to spend a morning.
By the time we had got almost back to the cars, it was getting quite hot and we were very tempted to soak our feet in the reservoir, but didn't just in case we were caught!
Monday 5 May 2008
Friday 2nd May
Di lead the walk today which was around Hemingstone and Coddenham, we have done part of this lovely walk before so were aware of what it was like, but that was during the winter months and it all looked so much different during the spring.
The bluebells were in abundance, birds singing and beautiful sunshine what more could we ask for.
We started the walk a little late in the day and therefore only did about 6 miles, but it was great to get out and stretch our muscles.
As we were nearing the end of the walk it started to rain, just to remind us that April had only just left us and that we should still expect a few showers.
Celia provided a welcoming cup of tea at the end of the walk in her delightful thatched cottage.
Jenny was the only one who could not join us she was living it up on the QM2 somewhere in the North Atlantic.
The bluebells were in abundance, birds singing and beautiful sunshine what more could we ask for.
We started the walk a little late in the day and therefore only did about 6 miles, but it was great to get out and stretch our muscles.
As we were nearing the end of the walk it started to rain, just to remind us that April had only just left us and that we should still expect a few showers.
Celia provided a welcoming cup of tea at the end of the walk in her delightful thatched cottage.
Jenny was the only one who could not join us she was living it up on the QM2 somewhere in the North Atlantic.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
