The start of the walk at the bandstand by the Suspension Bridge.
A debate on which way to go?
Not really there wasn't any choice, I think doubts over a possible lunch spot was more of an issue!
The Duke's Drive.
The Chronicle Wheel from our lunch spot by the racecourse.
Chester icebergs, taken from the footbridge over the River Dee by the railway bridge.
Walk stats: Distance:7.6 miles; Climb:449'.
Time:3 hours 10 minutes; On the move walking average:2.8 m.p.h.; Overall walk average:2.4 m.p.h.
Group:Martyn, Roger, Sylvia and Dave J., Paul and Mike D.
A superb day for walking, cold but sunny and conditions underfoot good with the only slippy bit being on the compacted snow on the road from Eccleston Ferry to the village. Unusually for Chester much of the river had started to freeze over, giving the impression that some of the ducks were walking on water. This is a lovely walk in any weather, but with the ground decked with snow and the trees covered in snow/hoar frost glistening in the bright sunshine made it even more special.
Lunch was taken by the Racecourse with more than half of the group using the two of the many seats provided along this superb new footpath. It seemed quite warm as we had lunch in the sun and without and wind to chill us.
As we approached the weir we had the unusual sight of seeing and hearing one of the moored boats pretending to be an ice breaker as the tide pushed sheets of ice across its bows.
As the walk was shorter than usual and despite Mike trying to slow us down by mysteriously and not knowing how, managed to ring my mobile whilst we were walking down the Duke's Drive, we arrived back at the Bear and Billet just before 2.
Birds seen or heard today included: Pied wagtail, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Blue tit, Great tit, Black-headed gull, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Common starling, Tufted duck, Little grebe, Mallard, Wigeon, Pochard, Moorhen, Common Coot, Long-tailed tit, Blackbird, European robin, Grey heron, Mute swan and Goldfinch.
The beers enjoyed were brews from the Tatton, Saddlers and Wheetwood breweries, although Dave had a Jameson's and Sylvia had a cup of tea.
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