Is this a Llama needing a haircut or am I just jealous?
"Why pick on me?"
"The rest ran away!"
"Despite being warm, I'm still not taking my fleece off!"
"I've heard of a headless women before, but never a headless rocking horse!"
The final approach towards Holywell.
Walks stats:9.3 miles. Climb: 1106'.
Time: 5 hours 11 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Tim, Celia and Phil.
The forecast for today was superb, the only question was could it be the first shorts day. In reality it was, but I didn't trust my instincts and opted for gear in between my Paramo gear and shorts, but at least I had my photochromic lenses on and went round in a short sleeve shirt all day!
This wasn't a walk that provided many photo opportunities, although I did miss one chance of taking a view that included the Duke of Lancaster fun ship! Views across the estuary was rather hazy. Was this due to the forecast pollution/smog coming across from Europe/France/Paris (who suffered it yesterday) or was it just a normal heat haze type phenomenon? I rather suspect this far North it was the latter.
The morning walk included a few new paths for us, and it is always good to use different paths and link them with paths that we are familiar. The problem with knowing many of the paths in the area, you can go off on auto-pilot, but thankfully Phil using the route description brought me back on track!
Having rejected my first suggestion of a lunch spot, we ended up having lunch once again in the delightful War Memorial Gardens in Holywell. This is like a Sun trap, and consequently we had more than the usual 20 minutes over lunch (but everyone else will deny it!).
The afternoon walk took us uphill again and include some new paths, one very muddy and tot be avoided in the future if we can!
Whilst we didn't quite make it as far as Pantasaph today, we did include a path through the farm yard at The Grange that is far better than oping on the concessionary path around then farm that we have used in the past.
Another delightful point was that Blackthorn was blossoming and more Spring flowers we out, including, Green alkonet, Self heal and Field speedwell.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Common buzzard, Black-billed magpie. European robin, Woodpigeon, Great tit, Common blackbird, Wood nuthatch, Dunnock, Winter wren Chaffinch and Chiffchaff (the bird of the day, heard just as we arrived back at the car park in Holywell - the first that I have heard this year with any certainty).
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell in Halkyn, where Nook Medium Cider went down well, as did the Warsteiner Lager and even the sparkling water and Tim could just about taste the added lemon slice (he hopes this is another sign that he is getting his taste buds back).
Overall a good walk on a beautiful day. One of the great bonuses and privileges of being retired.
The afternoon walk took us uphill again and include some new paths, one very muddy and tot be avoided in the future if we can!
Whilst we didn't quite make it as far as Pantasaph today, we did include a path through the farm yard at The Grange that is far better than oping on the concessionary path around then farm that we have used in the past.
Another delightful point was that Blackthorn was blossoming and more Spring flowers we out, including, Green alkonet, Self heal and Field speedwell.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Common buzzard, Black-billed magpie. European robin, Woodpigeon, Great tit, Common blackbird, Wood nuthatch, Dunnock, Winter wren Chaffinch and Chiffchaff (the bird of the day, heard just as we arrived back at the car park in Holywell - the first that I have heard this year with any certainty).
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Blue Bell in Halkyn, where Nook Medium Cider went down well, as did the Warsteiner Lager and even the sparkling water and Tim could just about taste the added lemon slice (he hopes this is another sign that he is getting his taste buds back).
Overall a good walk on a beautiful day. One of the great bonuses and privileges of being retired.
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