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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-10 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2020:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage, Wendy Peers, Celia de Mengle, Wendy and Ian Peers, Roger Smith, Paul Collinson, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Celia de Mengle, Sue Pearson.

Wednesday 15 July 2020

Thurstaston Hill Revisited Wednesday 15th July 2020.

Thurstaston Hill Revisited, Finishing With A Stroll Along The Beach.
Setting off on the Wirral Way from Thurstaston Country Park car park.
Wales cis over there somewhere!
At the toposcope doing their best to social distance.
The lunch spot for most of the group.
The view from my lunch spot - the beach from Caldy towards Thurstaston.
A Common kestrel trying to spot some food on the cliff by Caldy Beach.
A slightly different shot of the same Common kestrel.
A Common coot trying to distract us from the nearby chicks.
A female Mallard with one remaining large duckling.
Distance: 6.8 miles. Climb: 526'.
Time: 3 hours 36 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, David S., Wendy, Sue and Michel.
The forecast suggested that there was a >20% chance of rain after 10-00, alas at times in reality it was 100%. However each spell never lasted long, and usin an umbrella was all that was needed. Distant views were never clear, but on our second visit to the Thurstaston Hill toposcope we could just about make out the outline of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
Insteady of visiting Royden Country Park, we descended the north side of Thurstaston Hill towards Caldy Rugby Club, and followed field paths alongside several horse fields to reach the road leading to the shore at Caldy.
Lunch was taken on the beach, sheltering from the cool breeze behind the large stones near the steps.
We had good views along the beach towards Thurstaston as we had lunch, frequently being serenaded by the haunting call of the Eurasion curlews out on the mud flats.
Birds seen or heard today included: Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon, European robin, Common blackbird, Mallard, Moorhen, Common coot, Carrion crow, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Song thrush, Greenfinch, House martin, Barn swallow, Little egret and Common kestrel.
We arrived back at the car, still dry and looking forward to a celebratory drink, but alas that would have to wait until we got home.
An enjoyable and interesting walk, even if it wasn't exactly the walk we were expecting.
The bonus today was finding that it was free parking at the Thurstaston Visitor Centre Car Park, as many of us have little change with using "contactless" for most of our transactions for the lastfour months.

1 comment:

Celia said...

Glad you had a good time. My thoughts were with you. Pity that the 'dry' part of the day came at the end and you didn't have a pint to celebrate the 'Return of the Hikers' Maybe one day soon. Celia