A local walk today by myself. I seem to have been busy at home recently so this was a late Sunday afternoon walk. Not planning to go to far but just great to be outdoors. I start by driving to Childrey and the first part of my walk has been done before in that I’m walking towards West Challow.
I cross over the old Wilts and Berks Canal and on this occasion turn left as I reach the village. This path crosses fields and then turns to join the canal just before it reaches the road. It’s good to see Meadow Crane’s -Bill, a member of the Geranium family, such a pretty mauve colour.
The path is partly wooded before opening out around the edge of fields. I’m walking the sides of a square almost with the fourth side being the route of the old canal. Big open spaces!
I’m still slightly undecided as to my route and my phone starts pinging. Messages from my elder son asking if I’m at home and will be there at 6.30? Somehow I didn’t guess that being given a lift back from a surfing weekend in Cornwall would involve me taking him to the station to get a train to Cheltenham!!!! Well that helped concentrate the mind on longer or shorter route!!!
As I turned a corner on the square I seemed to be walking and you could also say turned to head back to the car, a wide vista of fields and the Ridgeway appeared. Always good to be reminded exactly where you are in relation to this ancient trackway.
A short bit of road / track again and had to step through the middle of some Sunday afternoon tree felling and chopping which was right across the road, it seemed to be involving a whole family. Shortly after this a small diagonal path heads down the side off a field and once again I’m glad for trousers and that I don’t suffer from Hay fever! I do love the variety of grasses though!
I come out into the village and walk passed the acclaimed pub ‘The Star’. Even if it was open , no time to stop! The path departs from the main road through the village and goes behind the housing as I’m steadily making my way back to Childrey! The path will come out onto a road but before it does I’m struck by the wonderful shapes of the trees against the blue sky.
I reach the sign for Childrey and feeling slightly defiant turn into a little side track rather than going straight down the road. It passed the back of the recreation centre and near the school, which I still didn’t get to see and then back to the Main Street and my car parked by the pond. I wasn’t going to get home for 18.30 but 18.50 would have to be nearer enough. Still time to provide food and drink and a lift to the station for the train at 19.55. Once a mum!
So my walk today was very pleasant even though I did feel a little hassled in the middle and was just short of 9 km, one of my shorter walks at 5.5 mile. Still good to be out and about.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 