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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, 4 November 2020

Harris Hikers Welsh "Stay at Home" Lockdown Walk 8: Wednesday 4th November 2020. Another Riverside, Saltney and the Wales Coast Path.

Another Riverside, Saltney and the Wales Coast Path.
Rainbow over Blacon.
Redwing at Saltney Ferry Footbridge.
An unintentially taken video of the Redwing.
The Beluga coming into land, although I was reliably informed the Beluga XL was also expected this morning.
Pied wagtail on the rocks by the River Dee.
Slug on the Wales Coast Path.
Swirls and eddies in the River Dee.
Worm on the Wales Coast Path.
Distance: 7.0 miles. Climb: 62'.
Time: 2 hours 44 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.8 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.
Having had my fill of the news saturated with what is happening across the pond and what Trump will or will not do, I set off earlier than usual.
It was bright and sunny when I set off, but it was still cool enough for me to put a fleece on. Showers were on the forecast, so with only light wind around, I went armed with an umbrella rather than full wateproofs.
Approaching Saltney Ferry Footbridge, there was a rainbow in the sky towards Blacon. A promise of better things to come, well it did, a few minutes later I had my best views this year of the Winter migrant bird, the Redwing. I even unintentionally took a video of one of them!
I was surprised to see how high and how fast the river was flowing, considering high tide was just after mid-night and the next one was four hours away.
The continually moving swirls and eddies reminded me of visits by the local policeman to my Primary School to warn us of the dangers of swimming in the River Dee at Saltney Ferry.  He also warned of moving quicksands - in all enough to make sure we did as we were told.
This was more than the cyclists, walkers and joggers did on the Wales Coast Path - all but one crossed the Wales-England Border even though it is currently not allowed except for specific exeptional reasons. I couldn't envisage any of these reasons applying to those crossing the border.
Lots of slugs on the Wales Coast Path, all looking quite streamline compared with the fat slugs I get at home - they must have a better lifestyle!
Not many birds were seen today, alhough I did see five Blackbirds around Morrisons Car Park in Saltney, and of course the great views of Redwing.
Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, European robin, Common chaffinch, Winter wren, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Black headed gull, Blue tit, Long tailed tit, Common redshank, Pied wagtail, Herring gull, Black billed magpie, Oystercatcher, Woodpigeon, Feral pigeon, Common starling, Lesser black back gull, Common gull, Collared dove, Mallard and Great cormorant.
Overall a pleasant enjoyable walk along a rather quiet Wales Coast Path with only the need to use my umbrella for about twenty minutes in all.
I arrived home, switched on the tv, and yes they were still talking about Trump - I don't think I can take another four years of this!
I think I will have to watch a recording of the Atalanta v Liverpool match again.

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