Shepherd's Hut at Upper Hurst Farm
We have reached the end of April - the thirtieth to be precise. The spring weather here in northern England remains most splendid. A big blue sky and fresh green leaves. No need for a coat or jacket.
I had two mugs of tea this morning - neither with sugar. An early lunch of tuna chunks from a can and frozen mixed vegetables heated in the microwave. A glass of tap water and a handful of delicious red grapes from South Africa. Yes - South Africa! More confirmation that we live in a mad world.
Then I jumped in Clint's cockpit and set off for Bamford Moor - about five miles away. I had a three mile circular walk in mind. After parking, I donned my walking boots and smeared any exposed skin with Nivea Factor 30 suncream. Then with my stylish faded sunhat on the bonce of your intrepid explorer, I set off.
Hurstclough LaneAs per usual it felt good to be alive. One foot in front of the other - over and over again - propelling me steadily through my selected corner of north Derbyshire. How green was my valley. How delightfully sunny too.
Street sign in Bamford village
I decided to rest for a while in the village of Bamford itself, choosing a shady spot beneath the arms of a native oak. I had my current book with me and read twenty pages, drinking cold water from my "Chilly's" steel flask before getting ready to tackle the half mile slog up Leeside Road.
Eventually, it meets New Road that skirts rough moorland high above the village and was probably "new" two hundred years ago. That is where Clint was parked and it was good to get back to him, ready for the short drive home.
Tomorrow we welcome May back once more - though she has probably already arrived in Australia.
By Leeside Road - one of the Bamford "touchstones". This one represents air.
Lovely photos and I really like that touchstone, made to mark the millenium apparently.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and great job on the changes. I would be sad to give up my mocha but my A1C isn't in the greatest shape either. Are red grapes OK? I know that grapes aren't the best for blood sugar but perhaps that's the green ones?
ReplyDeleteAll grapes are sweet and not good for the blood sugar, same with all the "sweet" fruits, watermelon etc. Although they might not be so bad if one has given up adding sugar to cereals and drinks and doesn't eat things like ice cream and pastries.
Deletebit 'ot, weren't it?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful day, Neil. Lovely weather, too.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good day for a walkabout and I love the Bamford "touchstones" Very cool.
ReplyDeleteYour weather is certainly warmer than ours. I walk from home to the Bower Woods for about 3 to 4 K
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures. Love the street sign. We lack such picturesque place names in Australia, though doubtless the indigenous people had many which were effaced by settler colonialists naming things after aristocratic patrons back in the "old country" or innumerable names such as "Three Mile Creek" or "Breakfast Creek" (Names less discreetly based on atrocities against the indigenous people have generally themselves now been suppressed.)
ReplyDeleteEverything is of course the other way round in Oz. Last Friday I swam in the harbour with a friend returning from Munich to visit her mother. Not particularly warm weather but the water still 22 or 23 celsius. This week our (this is Sydney) single-glazed windows are collecting condensation at night and heaters will soon be deployed as the house cools down.
A good walk in beautiful countryside. What more does one need to lift the spirit! The joy of putting one foot in front of the other… it does indeed feel good to be alive.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a good walk on a delightful spring day. If this is spring, what is summer going to be like?
ReplyDeleteI like that touch stone very much. Your walk looks lovely. I have tried to drink tea wthout sugar and always have to add a bit of honey instead. May is indeed here and so far isn't any different to April.
ReplyDeleteAfter such a wet grey winter, these lovely summer days with endless blue sky and sun are a real treat.
ReplyDeleteI had to Google the touchstones; I was not familiar with them. They are absolutely lovely.
ReplyDeleteI envy you and Meike your beautiful countryside walks. Everything looks so pretty there, Neil!
ReplyDeleteHappy May Day. :)
I heartily approve of your lunch!
ReplyDeleteA lovely walk through beautiful countryside. The weather is going to cool down from tomorrow and next week will be significantly chillier, so it will be back to jackets and maybe even a fire indoors.
ReplyDeleteYes. It is now May 1 here. My daughter's birthday. It was my mother's too. It looks to me like you had a perfect celebration of life in general, May in particular.
ReplyDeleteThree miles walking sounds enough in this hot weather.
ReplyDeleteI can confirm May has arrived, it in fact being the second day of May. I am behind with blog reading. It is a beautiful autumn day, with the morning air cold and crisp but the sky is cloudless and bright blue. The forecast temperature for the day is 21.
ReplyDeleteThe touchstone is interesting. I need to get out and walk some more, though I do about two miles a day just to get to work and back!
ReplyDelete