Harris Hikers Adventures (still solo for some) Tuesday 23rd June 2020

A Short Afternoon Stroll by the River.

The cleard way through The Riverside.

Look carefully and you may spot the only two birds on The Riverside at the moment.

Only a Woodpigeon the perching tre today.

Is it Musk mallow? If not what is it?

A brown butterfly that as yet I have been unable to identify.

Grass cutting on the embankment towards Cop House Cottages.

The Flint Bridge in sunshine.

Looking north eastward towards the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

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

Distance: 2.7 miles. Climb: 44'.

Time: 1 hour 14 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.7 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.

A short walk to get in a little exercise before the heat and humidity became too unpleasant. 

I arrived at The Riverside to see that a man was cutting back some of the vegetation adjacent to the path. Although this had obviously resulted in the birds relocating, it was still very welcome as it reduced my chances to getting my legs stung by nettles or getting wet legs from overhanging plants wet after rain.

It was good to see plenty of family groups out on a bike ride opposed to the lycra clad racers.

Birds seen or heard today included: Mallard, Moorhen, Chiffchaff, Common blackcap, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Blue tit, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Barn swallow, House martin, Common chaffinch, Black billed magpie, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, House  sparrow and Common swift.

Natural Resources Wales were working on the embankment between Saltney Ferry Footbridge and Cop House.

Work continues on the Mold Junction Road Bridge at Saltney Ferry. As I was crossing the bridge along the walkway around the actual work site, the lycra loonies had to be instructed to walk their bikes over through the work are having ignored the notice at bthe foot of the bridge telling them to do so.

An enjoyable hour and a bit walk, but glad to get home with the humidity rising. Thankfully my home getsvery little direct Sun until later on.

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.

Harris Hikers (still solo for some) Adventures Saturday 20th June 2020

An Afternoon Stroll in the Sun.

At The Riverside on River Lane, Saltney.

Moel famau from Mold Junction gutter outflow.

Looking towards Queensferry from the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Oystercatchers on the river bank, north west of Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Distance: 3.6 miles. Climb: 83'.

I wasn't sure wherther I would have a walk today, but when the Sun came out at about 12-30, it encoraged me to at least take a short walk. 

Arriving at The Riverside, the river was stil pretty high, so the tide couldn't have been on its way out for long.

The birds semed to be having a mid-day siesta, but those I did see or hear included: House sparrow, Blackcap, Common chaffinch, Greenfinch, Woodpigeon, Oystercatcher, Lesser black back gull, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Common blackbird, Barn swallow, House martin and Comon buzzard.

A very enjoyable stroll around the usual riverside walk, it would have been even better had there been a few less cyclist groups on the Wales Coast Path.

Sue and Dave's Grebe on the River Dee at Chester.

Great crested grebe on the River Dee at Chester.

Ed's Welsh wanders.

Wildlife Walk Llanrwst to Betws Y Coed via Gwydyr Forest 

A 10 mile walk with Evelyn providing the photos.

Robin at Llyn-y-Parc.

Ugly Bug at Sculpture Maze.

Spiky caterpillar on forest track. 

I think this is an Oak Eggar moth catterpillar.

Friendly Domestic Goat on way down to Betws Y Coed.

Grey wagtail on Afon Llugwy Betws Y Coed.

Harris Hikers Adventures (still solo for some) Friday 19th June 2020

An Umbrella Walk With a Haggis Bonus.

A Greenfinch and a Barn swallow taking a rest - not quite obeying the social distancing directive.

 That's whee I am going, it doesn't look as though it is raining, but it was.

Young Barn swallows waiting to be fed.

River rain.

A Grey heron by The Cop on Sealand Road, Chester.

Eastgate Street, Chester.

Lower Bridge Street, Chester.

The Groves from the Old Dee Bridge.

A Grey heron in a Willow tree by the river off Castle Drive, Chester.

The Old Overleigh Cemetery.

Rain falling in a puddle on the track next to Chester Golf Course.

Rain still falling in that Puddle.

Puddles on the green at Chester Golf Course, but at least this couple had avoided them. 

The gentleman needed two puts on this green.

Looking over Saltney Quay towards my homeland.

Distance: 8.8 miles. Climb: 162'.

Time: 3 hours 55 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.8 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.

With a forecast of rain at about 13-00, I set off at about 08-00, hoping to compete the walk before then. Unfortunately the rain didn't know it was only suppose to come after lunch and I had to make use of my umbrella all the way from Saltney Ferry Footbridge into Chester.   I went into the market to see if the White pudding had been delivered, it hadn't, but Fernyhough, one of the butcher was back open, and yes I managed to buy a Haggis. So as they say, not even the rain could dampen my joy. 

After visiting the market, I decided to return home via the Old Dee Bridge, Edgar's Field, The Dingle and Chester Golf Course.

Road works everywhere in Chester, traffic going in places you don't expect and extra bollards being erected in Bridge Street. In theory part of the plan eventually to make the city centre traffic free and safer for pedestrians and cyclists (I anticipate them becoming an even bigger hazard than they are at the moment).

Briefly the Sun came out and my solar powered watch got a top up of juice. I was on the riverside path heading towards Saltney Quay, when the heavy rain came.  I was glad that for once, I wasn't wearing sandals.

Birds seen or heard today included: Barn swallow, House martin, House sparrow, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Carrion crow, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Common starling, Common pheasant, Chiffchaff, Moorhen, Grey heron, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Great tit, Blackcap, Common whitethroat, Common buzzard and Black billed magpie.

Just after finishing this post, I rang Arden's Cooked Meats (another stall in Chester Market) and White puddings had arrived in today's delivery. Better still, he is going to deliver one to me on his way home later today.

I think I will really enjoy my breakfast on Saturday morning.

Harris Hikers adventures (still solo for some) Thursday 18th June 2020

An Early Walk to Beat the Rain.

Common blackbirds on the path.

Rosebay willowherb in flower at The Riverside on River Lane, Saltney.

Another flower at the Riverside, but as yet not one that I can identify.

One possibilty is Musk mallow.

Misty distant views from the Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

One Grey heron on the grassy river bank.

Not much Sun, but still enough to get reflections.

Distant views of a Common buzzard.

A second Grey heron on the muddy bank of the River Dee.

Not the Police helicopter this time.

Lapwings a plenty.

On the way home, and someone has already got their umbrella up.

Distance: 5.6 miles. Climb: 85'.

Time: 3 hours 5 minuts. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

With lots of rain on the forecast from 08-00 onwards, I decided to set off early, with the plan to get complete the walk before 08-00, hence beating the rain.

I let home at 06-00, and already it was a very pleasant temperature for walking. with hardly any breeze, I wondered what was going to brings the rain.

I expected to have the riverside to myself, but no, even at this time, the dog walkers, joggers and cyclists were out and about as well. The surprise of the day, was the fat that most of the cyclists said "good morning" as they carefuly passed me.

Arriving at the Saltney Ferry Footbridge, the skies didn't look remotely like threatening to dump the wet stuff in the near future, so I decided to go the extra mile on my walk.

This was a mistake, as I ended up walking the last mile home using my umbrella. It was nice gentle rain and with hardly any rain, the umbrella kept me perfectly dry.

Birds seen or heard today included: Black billed magpie, Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Commo blackbird, Lesser black back gull, Goldfinch, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Winter wren, Common whitethroat, Barn swallow, Blue tit, Great tit, Greenfinch, European robin, Mallard, Herring gull, Black headed gull, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Grey heron, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Common buzzard, Common chaffinch, Lapwing and Common kestrel.

It was only after being home for an hour or so that the rain became quite steady, so I had afterall made the right decision to take an early walk.

Harris Hikers Adventures (still solo for some) Wednesday 17th June 2020

Early Morning Visitor.

I am not sure I will be able to get out for a walk today as I am waiting in for an engineer to come and hopefully fix my tumble drier.

However I thought everyone might be interested in my early morning visirtor to the bird table.

Stumpy the squirrel.

Seen from the garden, flying over the school field

A Ladybird in the garden, probably a Harlequin.

Ed's Welsh Wanders.

Elephants, Butterflies and Moths of the Great Orme. 

Distance: 8.5 miles

Elephants Cave just off Happy Valley.

Pen Y Dinas Hillfort's rocking stone (Above Ski Centre), apparently if it didn't rock when you stood on it you was thrown over edge.

St Tudnos Church.

Cinnebar moth

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly.

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