26 February 2021

Released


I was like a caged beast roaring in our front room. Even the postman jumped and ran away when he spotted me there behind the bay window - roaring like a tiger with a thorn in its paw. But, yesterday (I believe in yesterday) I managed to break out of the cage in order to undertake a bracing. country walk.

Because the COVID police and COVID informers are prevalent these days, I did not dare to go far. Still within Sheffield's city limits, I parked in the hamlet of Brightholmlee near Wharncliffe Side.

Wharncliffe Side

It was a lovely day with an anticyclonic chill in the air and swathes of sunshine radiating from  a sky blue sky. With boots double-tied, I left Clint by an  old stone barn.

Being his usual charming self he muttered, "I hope this bloody barn doesn't tumble down on me while you are away frolicking in the countryside like a ruddy morris dancer!"

Soon I was down by More Hall Reservoir, marching on to Broomhead Reservoir then winding up the valley side past Raynor Hall Farm. What a trudge that was. Up and up. One of the many advantages of walking on your own is that you can take rests whenever you want. There's no need to explain.

Old guidepost in the parish of Bradfield

Then along the high level lanes between the valleys of The River Don and The River Loxley.  Very little traffic up there. Occasional isolated farms and houses. What would life be like living up there in splendid isolation? Not my cup of tea at all. Okay for a peaceful holiday week but to live there full time? No way. The caged beast would be roaring constantly- "I'm not a celebrity - get me out of here!"

By the time I crept up on Clint and shouted "Boo!"  I had walked at least six hard miles and  felt thoroughly invigorated.

34 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:27 am

    Do you have any idea what is being cultivated?

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  2. Glad you got out of your cage for a ramble. Ps people inform?

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  3. I feel sorry for poor Clint having to put up with you. Being left by himself must be depressing!

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    1. If you are prepared to pay the costs of export you can have him Red! You can even have him sprayed Red!

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  4. Probably even better for your soul and mind than for your body. Good for you!

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    Replies
    1. The tiger slept soundly last night - occasionally flicking his tail.

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  5. That wave-like field in the last picture have a very special aesthetic appeal and are, I think, rather unusual for your part of the world - the size in itself is unusual, and no visible boundaries like drystone walls or hedges.
    For those of us who know how important walking is for body and mind, not being able to go as far and as often as we'd like to is harder to bear than other restrictions, such as cinemas and pubs being closed.
    I am glad you had the occasion and the good walking weather yesterday.
    Did Clint jump when you crept up on him?

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    Replies
    1. Yes his tyres left the tarmac Meike and then he swore words that I would not wish to share with a refined young lady from foreign parts.

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  6. A good walk to blow the cobwebs away YP, it certainly looks very bracing!
    Had to laugh at Clint's comment about your Morris dancing, and am trying to imagine you with a flowery hat, bells and shaking your ribbons..! He's a bit of a misery isn't he? No wonder you're glad to leave him behind, and stride off into the unknown.

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    Replies
    1. If you are imagining me as a Morris dancer, I am imagining you as a bathing beauty in a leopard print bikini, clicking your fingers to command Pedro the waiter to bring you yet another G&T.

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    2. Some imagination you have there YP!

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  7. You are an inspiration to us all to get out and go for a country walk Mr Pudding. I particularly like the milestone and drystone wall photo.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks but you have walked further than I have recently Northsider.

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  8. Well I'm glad you got out for a walk. Sounds like you REALLY needed it! Sheffield must have quite expansive city limits. That area looks well beyond the bounds of urban development. (Not that I am at all questioning your decision to walk there -- in fact I understand completely!)

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    Replies
    1. In fact, Sheffield's city boundaries extend from The North Sea to the mountains of Wales and from The Thames Valley to Hadrian's Wall.

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  9. Love the sight of those undulating fields and the expansive scenery of the other photos, too.

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    Replies
    1. Yes - when I spotted that field, the lines appeared almost mesmerising. Thanks Mary.

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  10. This post is what Carson McCullers would call the Square Root of Wonderful.
    Haggerty

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  11. Caged tiger? Or tigger?

    The photos are lovely. It's too cold to walk here today -17C but maybe on Sunday. Fingers crossed.

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    Replies
    1. They should introduce a new line into the Canadian national anthem:-
      "Oh Canada! It's colder than a freezer!"

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    2. A prairie freezer is just setting the food on the back porch and letting it freeze. Doesn't work when you have dogs though:)

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    3. Or polar bears in the vicinity!

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  12. The tractor must have a grand time going up and down those little hills. You should ask if they would let you tag along next time they plow! Yhaheeee!

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    Replies
    1. Nowadays computer guides on tractors ensure the accuracy of the parallel lines.

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  13. Ah, the caged beast got tamed with a 6 mile walk. The fields look so green and relaxing and they seem to stretch on till infinity. You should go on walks more often, even short ones, so you don t scare the poor postman. You know he is just doing his job!!!

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  14. Two of my favourite books when I was in my late teens or early 20s was Quiet Flows The Don and The Don Flows Down To The Sea. Totally irrelevant bit you jerked out a memory from what passes for my brain. I loved the rolling field photo.

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    Replies
    1. "Quiet Flows The Don" is a great title though I have never read the book.

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