Harris Hikers adventures (still solo for some) Monday 22nd June 2020

A Riverside Walk Including The Old Dee Bridge.

Work in progress on Mold Junction Road Bridge, Saltney Ferry.

As far as I can see paths on both sides of the river are devoid of people.

The Grey heron on the mud bank opposite The Cop on Sealand Road.

The roodee Racecourse and its dog walkers.

A Canoeist at Chester Weir.

The Old Dee Bridge from Edgar's Field.

The source of the "stones" on the Dee Coastal Path.

There seemed to be a lot more golfers out today, many friendler that the currently recommended 2 metre distance.

A Moorhen exploring Balderton Brook.

Distance: 8.7 miles. Climb: 172'.

Time: 3 hours 40 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.8 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.4 m.p.h.

The day started with some early morning shopping, hoping to get a birthday balloon. Plenty iof balloons, but alas no helium. Filled with air, not helium, it would sink to the ground, resting there like a cushion.

Despite the early shop, it was still 09-15 before I was able to set of on my daily walk. On the cool side, but very pleasant for walking, little Sun at first, but towards mid-day it did manage to brealk through the cloud and it became quite warm.

The paths were generally less busy, even on the Wales Coast Path / Dee Coastal Path I only saw about a dozen cyclists and a few walkers and joggers. Dog walkers were more apparent on the  Roodee, where I saw at least ten, exercising their dogs in the centre of the racecourse.

 Walking on the the Dee Coastal Path, I noticed tell tale bird dropping on the path, not the blue/purple colour associated with eating ripe blackberries, but droppings with three or four "stones". It was only when I was on the opposite bank that I realised what they had been eating when I saw the source of the stones.

I didn't see the Great crested grebe by the weir, but seeing a canoeist brought back memories of the first time I canoed down Salmon's Leap in 1971.

Birds seen or heard today included: house sparrow, Winter wren, Barn swallow, House martin, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rook, Mallard, Moorhen, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Commom pheasant, Common blackbird, Common chaffinch, Black billed magpie, Common whitethroat, Blackcap, European robin, Greenfinch, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull and Grey heron.

A good walk and home early enough to set tthe washing machine going and then give my recently repaired tumble drier a full work out.