Circuit of 13.5 miles

With Harry.  13.5 miles.  Even hotter than we expected. 
We heard and saw a cuckoo in the Welland valley. In fact we heard both the male's well-known call, and the female's "bubbling chuckle", something I hadn't even known existed. You can hear it in the short video. 
We caught sight of a reed bunting flying over the water, and saw a couple of red kites backlit by the sun.

From Gretton, along the footpath which crosses the railway line, and the Welland, to Thorpe by Water.

Along Thorpe Road to Lyddington







Up the hill and over the A6003 to Stoke Dry and Eyebrook reservoir





A pause for a slice of ginger cake, then on to Great Easton, and a village shop!

Over the river again and on to Rockingham, where we had another pause in the churchyard.


Then back along the valley to Gretton.

Clematis at its best!

Bluebells, cowslips, butterflies

Closer to home than our usual bluebell woods.

we also saw orange tips, peacocks, tortoiseshell and brimstone butterflies.

Local Exercise and other stuff during lockdown

We have managed to do a few very local wanders over the past four weeks.  No routes, but a few photographs.  And one or two other activities too.































we have seen masses of wild flowers, watched trees coming into blossom and leaf, seen and heard lapwings and skylarks, and seen hares as well.

Oh yes, and this...

mother walks with toddler
looking for teddies and painted pebbles

in our window
a yellow cut-out teddy waves
and behind it I dance

around coffee time
we dance each morning
to the strains of China Crisis

The child looks from the gate
I wave and carry on
three times I wave

the music stops
I open the door and say hi
and the child and I dance
at a distance.

Pitsford Water - clockwise

With Marta, Wednesday 11 March 2020.

The usual almost 7 miles, in sun and wind, followed by a sandwich at the cafe.

Lots of fisher people around, and walkers and cyclists.  No lapwings, but plenty of mallards, tufted ducks, coots.

Market Harborough to Foxton Locks and back

The same 12 mile walk as last Thursday, with Norma, Maureen, Kate and Harry.

This time we did the detour via the ten-lock staircase before an early lunch at Bridge 61 pub.

Weather brighter than on Thursday, but a chill wind, and we got back just as it started to rain.

Market Harborough to Foxton Locks and back

Thursday 05 March 2020.  A 12 mile flat walk, almost all along the canal towpath. With Eddie and Maureen. Dry, grey and muddy after earlier rain.

Reflections in the greylight

One of the millennium mileposts erected by Sustrans and the national Cycle network. This one, about 1 and a half miles from the Locks, needs some TLC. There is another by the Welland in Harborough, looking much smarter.

This is part of a time trail puzzle. Unfortunately some ejects have nicked some of the discs, making the puzzle impossible to complete now. For more info on these millennium  posts click here

Eddie and Maureen descend the slightly slippery cobbles of Bridge 61, before we go into the pub of the same name.

Into the Bridge 61 pub for coffee and cake...or a pint...and still a cake.

Spring is springing

Maintenance of the flight of ten locks

and back to the start.

We ended the walk with a sandwich and coffee in Market Harborough's Eco Village.