By bike to Eyebrook Reservoir

Wednesday 14th September

 After lunch another bike ride - Lyddington.,( 3 pauses on the long hill up to the A6003!)  Stoke Dry, Great Easton, Caldecott, Gretton. 12.2 miles. 600 feet of ascent.  Paused at bottom of Station Road Hill, and got up it in one go.

At the bench near Eyebrook, someone had parked their car with boot open directly in front of it, and there were two young men looking at their phones - looking slightly sinister!

This looks a bit odd!

Just over 12 miles.

Thrapston to Stanwick Lakes and back

 Tuesday 13th September

With Marta.

I drive to Marta’s at 9.30, and on to Thrapston, where we parked near the Woolpack pub. 

A smoke tree 

We walked alongside fishing lakes taking the left hand path.

Remains of a railway bridge?

Then we followed the railway track path. 

We diverted for a coffee and cake at the Willy Watt Water Mill cafe ( you still get the occasional whiff of sewage!).

I chatted to a couple of elderly (!!) cyclists with electric bikes on the way in to the cafe.

There were lots of blackberries, but we didn’t pick any apart from the odd one to eat.

Continued to Stanwick Lakes visitor centre, where we saw lots of swallows and house-martins around the lake.

We bought a sandwich each and ate at an outside table.

 We retraced our steps (more or less) arriving back at the car at 4pm. Dry and warm, though not always sunny.

11 miles, all flat. 

Wakerley Woods to Fineshade

 Monday 12th September

Got up and breakfasted just in time to collect Norma for the walk from Wakerley Woods to Fineshade. We met Maureen and Kate there.

 Warmish for walking, and the sun emerged for a while as we had coffee at Top Lodge cafe.

Harry and I walked round the outside, ( 7 miles +) while the others did a shorter walk and we met again at the cafe.

Just as we were driving back the rain began.

A short bike ride, a short walk, a theatre performance

Wednesday 7th September

 After coffee I did another circuit of the valley, Harringworth and Mill Road. Once again managed Station Road without stopping, after a pause at the bottom of the hill.  The whole ride was almost 8 miles including round village at the start.

Twelfth Night at Kirby Hall

A superb performance by The Handlebards, two men and two women, who performed this play revelling in all the chaos and confusion caused by the twins Sebastian and Viola and the convoluted love triangle/quadrilateral that Shakespeare created.

All in the perfect surroundings of Kirby Hall, helped by the weather remaining dry after a short initial shower.

We walked our usual route from Gretton, down the Fullen Lane track and across the fields, carrying picnic chairs.

Of course it was dark for our return, but our head torches served us well.

A grand walk and an excellent evening out.

Bike ride - Welland valley

 Saturday 3rd September

Took bike round valley - down to Harringworth, back via Thorpe by Water and Mill Road, finishing with the ascent of Station Road. between 7 and 8 miles, including Kirby Rd, Corby Rd Hunts Field and Finch Hatton on way out.

The Welland is very low.

Back for coffee and a scone.

Bike ride - Gretton via Kirby Lane and Harringoworth

Thursday 1st September

 Harry continued to prune the holly tree.

I took the bike out and rode round via Kirby Hall - that road seems to be a serious rat run from the A43 to Priors Hall - huge amounts of traffic.

 I turned left before Deene, went close to Spanhoe lodge and down into Harringworth. Chatted to bloke cycling 40 ish miles. He passed me as I was having a brief pause on the hill up into Gretton.

10.28 miles according to Walkmeter.

Cycling around Welland valley

Tuesday 30th August

After lunch we went by bike to Lyddington, Seaton and Harringworth, bought 12 eggs and returned up the hill to Gretton. (I estimate 10 miles). 

Totton to Testwood Lakes

 

Thursday 25th August

After coffee we set off towards Testwood lakes,

walked round,

and to the hides near the Scrapes and Meadow Lake. Heron, lapwings, and later swallows and a couple of green woodpeckers, one of them calling and flying in typical green woodpecker fashion.

Return via Nursling Mill, over the now restored footbridge (see last year), to join the Test Way as it goes back along the river and across the salt marshes via the boardwalk into Totton.

Today this involved herding a group of young bullocks along a narrow path.

Sandwich and coffee from Greggs, which we ate near the library before walking the final mile home. Somewhere between 9 and 10 miles.

By bike from Totton to Beaulieu

 Wednesday 24th August 

The weather has improved hugely.  After coffee, around midday we decide to take the bikes for a pootle - to Beaulieu via Deerleap Road and Isley Cross, where the junction has been altered and looks much safer.

We turned off at the Beaulieu House car park entrance, and had to go back on to the main road for the village .

A longish Ice cream stop in the shade today. Everyone seemed chilled out.

Returned via the same route with a detour on foot close to Ipley Cross, where the crossroads have been made much safer recently

- no lizards although it looked a possible place.

18 miles in all, the furthest I have ridden since March in the fens near Boston.

Totton to Eling and back

 Sunday 21st August

Just under 5 miles) 

After coffee we walked down to Eling

and drew a bit, then walked along the board walks through the reed marshes by Bartley Water,

from close to the Toll Booth.

Returned to Tide Mill Cafe for a substantial sandwich and salad, and a rather weak and watery pot of tea.

Then Harry went to draw the church.

We walked back by footpath with Bartley Water on our left as far as the big recreation ground, then we followed Rum Walk until the end on Lackford Road and back.