A Riverside Walk with More of the Greenway to Hawarden Bridge 9th January 2021

A Riverside Walk with More of the Greenway to Hawarden Bridge.

Is that The Saltney Ferry Footbridge ahead?

The meeting point for the Greenway and the Church Farm, Sealand Road path.

Approaching the Blue Bridge over the Expressway.

Crossing the Blue Bridge to blue skies in Wales.

Moel Famau - centre stage, decked in snow, but not easy to see.

View from my drinks stop.

Distance: 13.4 miles, Climb: 217'.
Time; 5 hours 23 minutes. On the move walking average: 3.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.

Birds seen or heard today included: Moorhen, Mallard, Common blackbird, European robin, Woodpigeon Winter wren, Great cormorant, Little egret, Common chaffinch, Sparrowhawk, House sparrow, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rook, Common redshank, Little grebe, Greylag goose, Goosander, Fieldfare, Redwing, Lapwing, Black headed gull, Common buzzard, Great tit, Blue tit and Feral pigeon.

I had planned an early start today, but delayed, hoping that the early morning fog would lift quickly. It didn't and I set off at about 10-00 still with visibilty only 100 m or so. In fact the Sun threatened to put in an appearance just after 11-00, but didn't break through until after mid-day.

Even in the limited visibilty, it was still good to be out walking, and with hardly any breeze it didn't feel that cold, my only problem was my glasses misting up frequently - how blessed people with A1 vision are!

My first surprise of the day was hearing the continous high pitch sound of motorcycle engines in the distance as I left Deeside Lane on the path/track to Sealand Road. In fact it turned out to be some off road motorcycle entbhusiast racing around a track in a farmer's field - presumably an example of farm diversification!

Neither this track or the path from Church Farm on Sealand Road to the Greenway was as I remembered it, but there again the last time the Greenway didn't exist!

The views from the Blue Bridge (with Welsh Red Dragon see by vehicles passing under it on theway to North Wales) were superb, and Moel Famau looked majestic decked in snow and in the sunshine.

Arriving at the riverside at Hawarden Bridge, it felt really warm in the bright sunshine, so much so that I sat on a a bench enjoying a hot drink of " ginger and lemongrass" but only a short sleeved shirt on top.  My Paramo jacket was on te seat beside me, turned inside out drying off!

I don't thin I have seen so many people walking on the Wales Coast Path as I did today, but my surprise was seeing a cyclist approaching, but neither of us realised that we knew each other until it was too late (well too late for the cyclist to stop). In fact it was a friend from my teaching day - LeRoi.

Overall an enjoyable walk, but with legs feeling tired!

A Riverside Walk Including a Deeside Lane and Bumper's Lane Rounds 6th January 2021

A Riverside Walk Including a Deeside Lane and Bumper's Lane Rounds.

The field path from the Wales Coastal Path to Deeside Lane - potentionally very muddy, but today quite firm.

Beluga No. 3 approaching Hawarden Airport.

The stile leading to te Ferry Lane Path from Thornleigh Park Farm.

Looking back towards Thornleigh Park Farm.

The stile onto Ferry Lane, a little on the wobbly side, but still easy to negotiate.

Ferry Lane leading to the Higher Ferry Foorbridge.

The stile leading to the field path from the Wales Coastal Path to Bumper's Lane.

The problem gatefrom the field side.

The problem gate from the Bumper's Lane side.

Distance: 8 .3 miles. Climb: 112'.
Time: 3 hours 26 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.9 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.4 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.

I set off this morning, just as it threatened bto snow, but a few flakes ans a little light hail was all that we got.

The main obkective of the walk was explore three footpaths, the first from the Wales Coastal Path opposite the Airbus barge dock to Deeside Lane, the second from Thornleigh Park Farm to Ferry Lane and the third from the Wales Coastal Path to Bumper's Lane.

It was only on the Bumper's Lane end of the latter that I encountered and problems. The gate that should have allowed me exit onto Bumper's Lane, was secured by rope with knots that I failed to undo and the gate looked as thought it might break if I tried to move it and the nearby hedgs had started to overgrow the gate and even the gate in the next field wasn't easy to negotiate.

Apart from that it was an enjoyable walk with good views of the snow on the Clwydian Hills and Beluga No 3 approaching Hawarden Airport over the field that I was crossing.
Birds seen or heard today included: Mallard, Moorhen, European robin, Common blackbird, Woodpigeon, grey heron, Herring gull, Black headed gull Great black back gull, Lapwing, Great cormorant, Blue tit, Great Tit, Common gull, Fieldfare, Redwing, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Mute swan, Pink footed goose, House sparrow, Common chaffinch, Common starling and Raven.

Conwy Morfa, Mountain and more from Llandudno Junction Lidl. 4th January 2020

Conwy Morfa, Mountain and more from Llandudno Junction Lidls.

Conwy Marina.

Dwygyfylchi Church.

Foel Lus

Which way now?

Stream flowing on upland coastal path.

Conwy castle from Conwy Mountain.

Distance 13 miles.

Both Sides of The Dee with a TATA Extension 4th January 2021

Both Sides of The Dee with a TATA Extension.

Approaching Hawarden Bridge and the start of my TATA Extension.

The Footpath (Right of Way) that runsbetween the river and the steel works.

A little more of the path with Connah's Quay Dock in the distance.

Even more of the path with Connah's Quay Dock in the distance.

The remains of quite a large wooden boat.

Hawarden Bridge from the Right of Way Footpath on my return route.

Skeins of Pink footed geese returning to roost in the esturay over night.

Distance: 12.8 miles. Climb: 181'.

Time: 5 hours 0 minutes. On the move walking avwerage: 3.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.

Having cut my Saturday walk short because of the icy conditions underfoot, I was more prepared today as I set off with my Yaktrax attached to my boots. In reality after crossing the Saltney Ferry Footbridge, they became unnecessary and for the rest of the walk I carried them.

The main objective of the walk today was to explore the footpath along the river bank from Hawarden Bridge on the edge of the steelworks.

This was quite an interesting there and back extension andone I will explore further when I haven't already done six miles before getting there!

This is the first time that I have looked across the River Dee to Connah's Quay Dock, giving a totally different perspective of this part of the river.

All along this part of the river are the remains of woodem jetties, seeing the remains of quite a large wooden boat took me by surprise. Only Great cormorants an a Grey heron made use of the jetty remains today.

Birds seen or heard today included: Moorhen, Mallard, Common blackbird, House sparrow, Woodpigeon, European robin, Carrion crow, Grey heron, Great cormorant, Jackdaw, Blue tit, Great tit, Long tailed tit, Common chaffinch, Little egret, Common redshank, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Common kestrel, Common buzzard, Winter wren, Canada goose, Pink footed goose and Goosander,

Overall an enjoyable 5 hour walk, not much climb, but feeling tired enough to know I will sleep well tonight. 

At one point I chatted to an 85 year old man, that I learned had once lived at 53 in the same road as me and found that there was a good number of people that we both still know. In fact my stepmother remembers both him and his wife when they lived at 53.

The First Riverside Walk of the Year 1st January 2021.

The First Riverside Walk of the Year

Looking towards the Saltney Ferry Footbridge from The Riverside,  River Lane, Saltney.

Looking towards the Clwydian Hills from the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

The Clwydian Hills decked in snow.

Look carefully somewhere there is today's Dee tidal bore.

In times gone by.

Ist January 2008 - on Bryn Alyn.

1st January 2010 on Thurstaston Hill.

Distance: 7.0 miles. Climb: 95'.
Time: 2 hours 46 minutes. On the move walking average: 3.1 m.p.h Overall walk average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn.

It has become a tradition to have a walk on 1st January, sio I was determined to have one today, even though this would mean having to be my first Welsh "stay at home" lockdown walks of the year.

It wasn't perfect weatherwise, but in the main it was dry and at times the Clwydian Hill looked superb, decked in snow and in the the Sun , Moel Famau made me wish I was there.

I did see the tidal bore, but it wasn't very impressive.

Birds seen or heard included: Mallard, Moorhen, Common blackbird, Pied wagtail, Black billed magpie, Woodpigeon, European robin, House sparrow, Goldfinch, Grey heron, Great cormorant, Fieldfare, Carrio crow, Jackdaw, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Little egret and Little grebe.

An enjoyable walk to start the year, but making me think even more of absent friends.

Looking Forward to a Harris Hikers New Year 2021

 

A Happy New Year to all Harris Hikers, 

Past and Present.

Let's hope that it won't be too long before we all get our Covid-19 vaccinations 

and we can get back to full unrestricted group walks again.

Harris Hikers Dates and Walks January 2021

Dates and Walks January 2021.

Looking back to 2020, I was surprised to find that I had been on 43 walks with other members of the group, covering 341 miles.

However in all I did over 150 solo walks covering 940 miles.

Unfortunately both England and Wales current "stay at home" lockdown rules prevent us all from walking as a group.

 It looks as though I will be walking solo from home for the forseeable future, getting to know my local surrounds.

Although the Chester members will be doing likewise, it does look as though they can meet up with one other person on thier exploration of paths nearby.

Hopefully it won't be too long into 2021 before group walks on both sides of the border can resume.