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" Our Pre-Christmas Grand Tour " Date & start time: 22nd to 29th November 2016. Location of Start : The red phone box, Loweswater , Cumbria, Uk ( NY 143 211 ) Places visited : Sheffield, Bytham (Stamford), Camberley, Keyworth (Notts) and home. Holiday Details : A grand tour of family and friends prior to Christmas. Highest point : Seeing everybody. Walked with : Our dogs, Harry and Dylan . . . et al. Weather : Good but generally poorer than the Lake District while we were away. |
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After last weekend we now complete the quadruple (i.e. see the three other children) and more as we take a quick trip "down south" to see family and friends on a pre-Christmas Grand Tour of our address book. Presents exchanged, meals and company enjoyed then we returned home. An urban landscape makes an unusual start I must admit, but we've travelled over to Sheffield to see Jenna at her flat in the city. During our stay Jen took us out to the KoKo Japanese Restaurant on Ecclesall Road . . . hardly a knife or fork in sight. She's at home today so while Ann stays back and chats to Jenna, my walk in the park is 'dogs only'. Her flat is opposite the park so it can be a walk without a car journey for me. The Grand Pavilion at the top of this lovely urban park.
The Sheffield Air Pollution Garden . . . indicating possible pollution not creating it hopefully ! Click here or on the picture to read a full size version of the information board. - - - o o o - - -
After lunch Angie takes us for a walk around the local woods. The overcast nature of the day didn't stop Dylan taking to the water. ( he went in off the bank not from the bridge) Towards the centre of the woods the colours are still good despite the recent heavy leaf-fall.
On the way back we cross the local fields where the farmer is cutting up a fallen horse chestnut tree. - - - o o o - - - In the evening we all met up with Sherran and Bill at The Bluebell pub restaurant in Helpston. It was only a few weeks since we had seen them but the conversation flowed well nevertheless. - - - o o o - - -
Next day the weather is better and we take another stroll through the woods. " Smile Ladies " David joined us on the walk today. He's spotted something in the undergrowth.
. . . or was it the two deer that scurried away at the sound of out passing. A thick floor covering of russet brown but there's still leaves on the beech to hide the blue skies above. As we cut round in a circle to the bottom of the woods the deer that had run down to the lower slopes ran back up, across a clearing at speed !
The lake was constructed many years ago and survives due to that small weir. The recent clearing and cleaning work with a JCB has now become naturalised and looks so much better. The land owner has built a summer house next to the lake and there's scope for rowing or canoes . . . but summer was a while away now and it has been several months since they've been used by the look of the leaves on them.
Back to the house once again after a lovely sunny walk through the woods. - - - o o o - - - On the road now and heading south to Camberley . . . A drive full of cars greets us at Catherine and Richard's house. Richard is away for ten days and the boys are at school or college so Cathy has the house to herself . . . till we arrive ! . . . except for Gareth and Rhian of course, who have travelled up from Swansea for this small family get-together. - - - o o o - - - Dogs will be dogs . . . and they insist on making sure their owners get a walk each day. Sometimes I think they insist on getting wet in some muddy stream each day too !
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Next day , a second walk found us heading down to the lakes in the grounds of Sandhurst Academy. Harry has slowed down for the speed bumps ! Gareth and Rhian admire the horses in the paddock. Staff College House behind, clean and dry dog on the fishing platform in front . . . not for long . . .
Two mallard ducks paddle slowly past the winter water lilies and colourful birch.
" Autumnal Woodland Floor " The happy couple . . . and Ann.
Treats are on hand for those that have run around and come back when called.
The white and green structure is temporary seating for the Sovereigns's Christmas Passing Out parade next week. Overcast and looking as cool as it felt. It's them again ! The boathouse across the lake. The two mallards have returned after their journey to the upper lake. ( They could be a different two of course . . . I forgot to ask ! )
Could have guessed ! As we won't be seeing everyone over Christmas we dined out in style in Bill's Restaurant We passed on the "quiet booths and seating areas" preferring a larger sharing table. - - - o o o - - - After three nights at Cathy's there was just one more stop planned on our return trip. We drove to Pat and Mike's at Keyworth and with son Ian, we took a late afternoon walk around Rushcliffe Park. This is a return trip to this open country park which has plenty of space for the dogs to run. The third one here is now Tada, Ian's cockapoo . . . a lovely dog. Autumnal colours of Nottinghamshire too . . . Helped along by clear skies and a setting sun. This is adjacent to the terminus of the Loughborough to Nottingham Heritage Railway. From the same bridge we turn to see the last of the sunset colours before returning to their home for the night. Tomorrow we'll have the rest of the drive home to the Lakes. - - - o o o - - - |
Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's new Panasonic Lumix TZ60, or my Panasonic Lumix Gx8a Compact System Camera. Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder. This site best viewed with . . . a few tanks full of petrol Go to Top . . . © RmH . . . Email me here Previous walk - 19th November 2016 - Paula's Family Weekend A previous time up here - 27th November 2010 Camberley Lake Walk Next walk - 4th December 2016 - Sunrise and Sunset Before the Rain
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