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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.

Monday, 18 January 2021

The Last Walk Before The rains Come 18th January 2021

The Last Walk Before The Rains Come.
A male Common blackbird on the riverside.
A shy female Common blackbird runns away.
Great cormarants and Mallards share the bank.


A Great black back gull on post duty.
The resident Common kestrel takes stock from its perch on power line.
A Beluga XL taxis to the end of the runway before taking off.

The Beluga XL starting its run up.
The Beluga XL lifts off the runway.
Distance: 9.8 miles. Climb: 108'.
Time: 3 hours 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.9 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.
This was the last chance for a dry walk before the onset of three days of heavy rain starting on Monday evening, so I set off just after 10-00, after completing my usual weekly shop. Quite cool at times and not much Sun, but still a good day for walking.
Plenty of people about, but thankfully no off road motor bikes.
i saw rwo Beluga's, both taking off from Hawarden Airport, the first the original Beluga ST and towards the end of the walk one of the Beluga XLs.
Not that many birds showing well at the moment, but there seems a lot of Great cormorants fishing on the Dee between Saltney and Queensferry.
Birds seen or heard today included: Collared dove, European robin, Mallard, Moorhen, House sparrow, Great tit, Common starling, Dunnock, Common blackbird, Pink footed goose, Great cormorant, Black headed gull, Common redshank, Herring gul, Common gull. Great black back gull, Common chaffinch, Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Feral pigeon, Black billed magpie, Eoropean robin, Grey heron, Canada goose, Blue tit, Goldfinch, Common kestrel and Pied wagtail.
It was under ten miles, but I was still glad to get home and put up my feet a drink a refreshing few cups of tea with a little whisky added.
I met a former neighbour and even though he is 85, he still walks everyday whatever the weather - will I have the courage to do the same when it is raining tomorrow? I doubt it!

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