Sunday 26th April 2020
No walk for me today, watched WEF virtual church service and then made myself a face covering / mask.
No walk for me today, watched WEF virtual church service and then made myself a face covering / mask.
It's the only way I will get any "hare" on to pf my head these day.
All I can say is I hope I won't have to wear one of these for any length of time.
I'll stick to the first one!
Ed's Welsh Wander
A 6 mile road walk to Gell.
The best Bluebells near Gell.
Foals in a field.
Pretty flowers - Forget-me-not?
Gell fishing lake (spot the Mute swan)
A Saltney and Queensferry Riverside Round 25th April 2020.
Not many cyclists on the Wales Coast Path yet - it didn't last!
A Carrion crow in a tree next to the Wales Coast Path.
Neat furrows - potato field for the future.
A male Chaffinch on the top of a hedge next to the Wales Coast Path.
The remains of a wharf on the Queensferry side of the river.
Hawarden Bridge from the Blue Bridge at Queensferry.
A Small white on a Dandelion head.
A Small tortoiseshell on a Dandelion head.
Another Small white on a Dandelion head.
An Oystercatcher on the bank of the River Dee watching th rising tide.
An vibrant yellow avenue of Dandelions.
Distance: 9.9 miles Climb: 100'.Time: 5 hours 17 minutes. On the move walking average 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
It was a little on the cool side as I set off, and for the first hour or so, I was frequently thinking "should I stop and out on my jacket". In the end I didn't and by mid-day it became pleasantly warm.
Still lots of cyclists on the Wales Coast Path, once more over one hundred passed me on the section fro Higher Ferry Footbridge to the Blue Bridge at Queensferry.
I decided to return from Queensferry by following the quieter path on the south side of the river.
I heard Skylarks singing over the fields north of the river, but it wasn't until I nearly at Cop House on the way home that I was able to see as well as hear a Skylark singing.Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow,European robin, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Greenfinch, Herring gull. Lesser black back gull, Black headed gull, Common blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Dunnock, Mallard Greylag goose, Pied wagtail, Goldfinch, Song thrush, Common buzzard, Common redshank, Blue tit, Great tit, Moorhen,Collard dove, Black billed magpie and Barn swallow.
The only butterflies seen were the Small white, Small tortoiseshell and the Orange tip. The number of Dandelions out, makes you feel as though you are walking the a yellow corridor as they dominate the verge on both sides of the paths.
The only surprise today, was to see a public service bus that actually had two pasengers.
I even saw two people fishing, but I doubt that they would catch anything as the rising tide was rushing past them.
Overall a very enjoyable walk with the only thing missing - a celebratory pint of real ale in a suitable hostelry.
The Peers's Saturday Morning Stroll 25th April 2020.
The walk started by going down the A41 and then along the towpath to the bridge and back up the zoo brideleway.
No one else walking at this time in the morning.
Great to have the towpath to ourselves.
Ed's Welsh Wander - a Llangernyw Loop 4th April 2020.
Distance: 5 miles.
An Afternoon Stroll Around The Block 24th April 2020.
Distance: 2.5 miles. Climb: 43'.
Time: 1 hour 28 minutes. On the move walking verage: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Initially I wasn't going to go for a walk today, but the weather was so nice, I decided to take a stroll around the block.
Today, the natives were restless and there were several largest groups mainly teenagers not conforming to social distancing directives. a fellow shopper this morning said that she had seen fifteen boys playing football on a field near her. there were noticeably more cars on the main A5104, making it more difficult to go into the road to give the two metre distance between you and people walking towards you.
Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, House sparrow, Mallard, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Oystercatcher, Lesser black back gull, Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Starling, Winter wren, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Song thrush, Common whitethroat and Barn swallow.
Only the Small white and Orange tip butterflies were seen today.
A Female Greenfinch taken by Ed's Friend from Prestatyn on the 23rd April 2020.
Pelissiers Spot the First Ducklings of the Year on the 23rd April 2020.
A Saltney Riverside Round via The Roodee and Saltney Ferry Footbridge 23rd April 2020.
The Grey heron in its usual spot on the mudbank, south of Bumper's Lane.
A Winter wren singing in River Lane Saltney.
A Common whitethroat near Saltney dock.
Curzon Park Golf Course looking good, no golfers, just the groundsmen working.
Chester Roodee ahead.
The tide is coming in fast.
This hard work, even for a duck.
The tide just on the turn.
Tide going out quickly.
It makes a change from the Beluga!
Red campion next to the Riverside Path, west of River Lane, Saltney.
The Chesster skyline from the buoy at the Riverside Path, River Lane, Saltney.
Distance: 7.1 miles. Climb: 105'. Time: 3 hours 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Birds seen or heard today included; Common blaclbird, House sparrow, Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff, Common whitethroat, Winter wren, Mallard, Great tit, Blue tit, Moorhen, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Teal, Blackcap, Black billed magpie, European robin, Greenfinch and Canada goose. Butterflies seen: Small white, Orange tip, Small tortoiseshell and Peacock.
Not quite so warm today, but still very pleasant for walking. The Sun only emerged ffully from behind the light clouds and there was little or no breeze.
I don't think I have ever seen so many people walking on the riverside path west side of Curzon Park Golf Course as I did today.
The Wales Coast Path from the Sealand Road Cop to Higher Ferry Footbridge was busy with cyclist, most giving little consideration to pedestrians and social distancing. If I know they are coming, I now stop and turn my back on them, but few approaching from behind give any audible indication of their approach.
Having said that this was a very enoyable walk with Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Common whitethroat singing their hearts out everywhere. I think after the walk today, the most common bird in this area must be the Winter wren.Butterflies were flitting everywhere as well.
The Peers's Local Walk in Upton.
A stile, but where does the path from it go?
Bluebells in the lane.
A tree plantation opposite the junction with Dutton's Lane.
Does anyone know what sort of trees are growing in this plantation?I have been trying to find the answer to this question for several years.
Ed's Welsh Wander 22nd April 2020.
A Themed Pentre Isaf Round.
Distance: 6 miles.
Guess the theme.
Alpacas sunbathing.
Bullocks sunbathing.
Sheep sunbathing.
Orange tip sunbathing.
A Saltney, Bretton and Balderton Round 22nd April 2020.
The A55 from the first footbridge.
Walk stats: Distance: 6.7 miles. Climb: 125'.
Time: 3 hours43 minutes. On the move walkin average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Yet again the weather was almost perfect for walking. There was a fai bit of road walking on this round, but at least from home to Bretton I had the safety of a pavement to use. Social distancing courteously applied on all encounters. Initially I was going to use minor roads all the way from Bretton to Balderton, but had a last minute change of mind and decided to take the Link Path through Digby Farm to Balderton. This was a good choice as today it was pretty firm underfoot, but one or two fields had great potential for being muddy if the walk had been carried out after a heavy period of rain. This route included using a footbridge over the A55, one that I had never used before. The lack of traffic on the A55 was again quite noticeable. A came across a recently ploughed field where the path went across the corner, but I decided to contour round the edge as the easier option considering that I was only wearing walking shoes.
I wasn't aware that sheep rearing was so big in this area, but several fields that I crossed had lots of sheep and lambs of various ages.
The road from Bretton Road to Balderton was surpringly bus, but most vehicles gave me a wide berth as did the cyclists. Perhaps the cyclists that use minor roads find it easier to remember that pedestrians should be given plenty of clearance anyway and social distancing still applies.
I was quite surprised to encounter quite a few people as I walked from Balderton to Sandy Lane.
Butterflies seen today included: Small white, Small tortoiseshell and a Peacock.
Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Mallard, Lapwing, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Common buzzard, Collared dove, Common whitethroaat, Sege warbler, Blue tit, Great tit, Carrion crow, Rook, Black billed magpie, Common blackbird, Barn swallow, Winter wren, Goldfinch and Lesser whitethroat. At one point, I thought I could hear a Skylark singing in the distance, but it didn't last long enough for me to confirm it.
This walk made a good addition to my solo walks from home options.
The Pelissier's Riverside Walk to Eccleston 21st April 2020.
Ed's Welsh Wander.
Afon Elwy Circuit to Llangernyw 21st April 2020
Distance: 4 miles .
The Afon Elwy.
Saint Digain's church and it's Yew tree Llangernyw.
Chester Before a Short Saltney Riverside Walk 21st April 2020.
Watergate Street.
Bridge Street.
After collecting my bread, I decided to head for Chester to see if the butchers in the market were still open. They were, so I was able to get my black pddings from Geof Hughes and my white pudding from Arden's. Most of the food retailers at the front of the market were open, so I was happy that I could support at least two of them.
It wasn't surprising to see few people in town, although a few cars did go through and some maintenance was still being carried out on the roads/pavements.
In all I spent about fifteen minutes in Chester before heading for home and setting off on my daill walk, having put my shopping away. Cutting frozen black pudding into small single portions was a challenge and without a food saw or cleaver took me longer than expected. This done and the black puddings and single portion white pudding safely in the freezer, I could get ready for my walk.
The walk.
Is this the way cyclists should cross Saltney Ferry Footbridge.
Is this the way cyclists should cross Saltney Ferry Footbridge - at least they started as they should.
Quiet times on the riverside paths.
Walk stats: Distance: 2.4 miles. Climb: 80'.
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
It was a little later than usual when I set off, but by now it had warmed up quite a bit, making it very pleasant for walking. With all the hedges and trees now fully decked with lots of foliage, the birds are getting very difficult to spot and even harder to try and photograph. Even the Grey heron failed to be obliging today. However I was able to get clear views of several Common whitethroats and lots of Barn swallows, but neither of these species waited to have their photo taken.
The incoming tide was still flowing fast, and once more a Black billed magpie hitched a lift on some floating vegetaion, but once more once it came within camera range it took off.
Birds seen or heard today included: Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Common blackbird, House sparrow, Black billed magpie, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Woodpigeon, Feral pigeon, Rook, Carrion crow, Pied wagtail, House sparrow, Great tit, Winter wren, Jackdaw and Common whitethroat.
The only butterflies seen today were the Small white and Orange tip.
Not so many people walking today, at least not at this time and cyclist were also fewer, even on the Wales Coast Path on the opposite side of the river.
Nevertheless most cycists were riding the bikes over the Saltney Ferry / Higher Ferry Footbridge even when then were passing pedestrians - will they ever learn?
Overall a short but enjoyable walk.
A Riverside Walk In Search of Skylarks 20th April 2020.
Blue skies ahead.
The view from the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.
A unknown escapee next to the path.
Another escapee, but this is Rapeseed.
Dandelions - just see how clear a close up photo would be.
The A380 Wing Barge Terminal/Dock wuth Moel Famau on the skyline.
Moel Famau on the skyline again.
Walkstats: distance: 5.7 miles. Climb: 80'.Time: 3 hours 2 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Another good day for walking, pleasant, quite bright and sunny but with a slightly cooling breeze.
The only surprise I had today was t the vtime I went to take a photo, only to find that I had picked up the wrong camera and this one didn't have a battery in it. All of the photos taday were taken with my mobile phone, so I was sort of trying to work out its limitations.
Birds seen or heard tod included: Chiffchaff, House sparrow, Common blackbird, Dunnock, Common chaffinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Carrion crow, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Common pheasant, Little egret, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Common redshank, Skylark and Grey heron.
Not as many cyclist today, but once again some thought that it was their rites to ride across a bridge designated as a footbridge.
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