2 August 2020

Blessed

Ram at Wickinford Farm
On Friday, Clint and I drove over to Cheshire again - beyond Buxton but still in The Peak District. It was the hottest day of the year so far and all over England high temperatures were recorded - making it the third hottest day on record.
I drove through the hamlet of Bottom-of-the-Oven - yes you heard me right - and then turned up a narrow lane before parking in another tiny village called Forest Chapel. I was in shorts with my muscular weightlifter legs revealed for all and sundry to see. I slapped sun lotion on them - and on my face and arms too. Then I swigged a pint of water before beginning my trek - sensibly wearing my faded cotton beanie hat from Malta.
Five hours later - returning to Forest Chapel - I was as weary as a Chinese patriot at the end of The Long March. Positively mule-like, I trudged up the lane and was finally reunited with my silver machine - Lord Clint of Clintshire. I had finished the water in my rucksack four miles beforehand while looking over Lamaload Reservoir and so I was pleased that I had left another flask in Clint's boot. I drank it down like air.
Lamaload Reservoir
Then it was back over the hills, through Buxton, Doveholes, Castleton and Hathersage. Still as thirsty as a Saharan camel, I pulled in to the car park of "The Norfolk Arms" at Ringinglow and ordered not one but two pints of bitter shandy. I guess I was in recovery mode after the hot miles I had plodded. These pints were guzzled quite rapidly and I was back home by six thirty.

It was a delicious kind of fatigue and after eating a hasty chicken salad with buttered potatoes I was soon snoozing on the couch, remembering the things I had seen in that lovely corner of  Cheshire on such a wonderful summer's day. Sometimes I feel truly grateful to be alive, to be able to walk so many miles and to live in such an amazing country. Blessed, really blessed. 
Hardingland Farm

33 comments:

  1. That sounds like a truly wonderful day. You are blessed. ❤

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  2. And I am feeling fortunate tonight reading about it. It sounds incredible. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. That's a nice thing to say Terry. Thank you.

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  3. You're blessed that you have all the right of ways that allow you access to so many locations. we don't have the access.

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    Replies
    1. You are referring to one of England's secret treasures - our network of footpaths. Mile upon mile.

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  4. I would not have lasted five hours in the heat, walking. I took the dogs for a walk this morning early to avoid the heat.

    I love the photos but I especially love the last photo, the gate and the daisies, so picturesque.

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    Replies
    1. It was the rustic handmade gate that caught my eye.

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  5. Five hours in that heat would indeed be a challenge but you were rewarded with wonderful pictures! Yes, you are blessed to be able to walk in such a beautiful area. That last picture is just perfect!

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    1. And it's in such a lovely location too. At the end of a quiet lane with magnificent views of The Cheshire Plain.

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  6. Lovely pictures but have visions of you returning to your car on all fours like the caricature in a desert. Five hours walking in extreme heat would have finished me off and I would have needed a vat of shandy to recover.

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    1. As I trudged up that lane my walking speed was reduced to that of turtle on a beach. So weary.

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  7. Think you are very brave to have walked that distance in that heat but lovely photos. Nature is a wonderful companion.

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    1. Compared with walking in the south of Thailand, this heat was very bearable Thelma. Luckily there was a slight, cooling breeze.

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  8. Sounds like a fantastic walk. I admire your fortitude for walking in that heat! I barely went outside!

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    1. As Noel Coward sang, "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun"!

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  9. That was a very hot day to go walking! Makes me feel thirsty just reading about it. The ram's horns are amazing.

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    1. That ram knows the true meaning of the term "horny"!

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  10. As always, excellent photos YP. The ram looks quite a friendly chap, and the last one is worthy of painting!

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    1. I give you free licence to paint the last one CG. Now, where are your brushes?

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  11. Beyond anything but my dreams these days I'm sad to say.

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    1. With every walk I undertake I am very conscious that this pastime will not last forever. I need to do it while I can.

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  12. Goodness me. Had you intended to walk that far or did you just keep on going until you decided you had had enough?

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    1. I may have been slightly ambitious with my circular route and annoyingly near the end I became slightly lost - adding an extra mile to the route.

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  13. What a great hike. We've been out today too, but only a two mile round trip to scrump a few Tomatoes from a nearby farmer friend. Love that gate, farm, roof, etc.

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    1. I love rustic gates like that one. Homemade with love.

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  14. And you are! What a great day.

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  15. Smashing photos YP. Especially the ram and the daisies at Hardingland Farm. Please send some hot weather over here and some of that bitter.

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    Replies
    1. They're in the post Northsider. I wrapped the sunshine in bubble wrap.

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  16. If you are not surrounded by beauty, you take some convincing pictures. Thanks from me.

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    Replies
    1. A lovely thing to say. Thank you Joanne.

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