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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: 2-7 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 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Harris Hikers Solo Adventures Wednesday 13th May 2020

A Riverside Walk In Search of Happy Golfers.
A splas of colour at the scrapyard.
A Barn swall takes a rest.
A chattering Barn swallow.
Saltney Ferry Footbridge and the notice instructing cyclist to give way to pedestrians.
Where have all the cyclists gone? Are they all back at work?
Moel famau from Bumper's Lane, Chester.
About to enter a different country.
Crane Wharf from the Cop, Sealand Road.
Bathing in the River Dee - don't worry this is England, it's allowed!
Thee is a golfer there somewhere.
More golfers spotted.
The Grey heron is back at its usual spot on the mud bank, west of Bumper's Lane, Chester.
Distance: 8.0 miles. Climb: 87'.
Time: 4 hours 9 minutes. On the move walking average:2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
When I set off, the breeze made it feel quite cool, so I wasn't able to disgard my fleece until about 11-00, when the Sun was shining and the temperature had started to rise.
It was very noticeable that there was more traffic on the roads, making it difficult to hear the birds singing from the roadside garden hedges and trees.
Arriving at the Saltney Ferry Footbridge, there was a noticed that cyclist give way to pedestrians - I can only conclude that most cyclists can't read!
It seemed quiet on the Wales Coast Path, a few walkers and joggers, but no cyclists!   Well it was like that for quite some time, but after about 10-00, they started to make their presence know.
No House martins today, but there were lots of Barn swallows hunting insects along the riverside hedges and over the river. Nothing out of the ordinary, but it was still good to hear Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Common whitethroat on both sides of the river.
Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Common blackbird, Common starling, Barn swallow, Comon swift, Collared dove, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blackcap, Common whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Mallard, Grey heron, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Oystercatcher, Black billed magpie, Woodpigeon, European starling and Common buzzard.
As this was the first ay that the Golf Courses in England were open, I was expecting to see lots of golfers out enjoying themselves on Chester Golf Course. Arriving at the Golf Course, plenty of cars were in the car park, but looking over the greens through the trees, it was difficult to spot many golfers. I did see one or two and heard a few golf balls being struck as I walked along the path adjacent to the course.
This side of the river was even quieter than Wales Coast Path side of the river.
I explored a well trodden path near the start of the path to Saltney Quay, but found it only went to the river - perhaps used by locals going fishing.
I arrived home, having had an enjoyable walk.

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