Saturday 18 September 2021
DH, RW, DL, Tilly, Sully, Scrumpy & Alfie
As we were a couple light on numbers this week, I thought we could take the opportunity to bring the average age of the walkers down below 50 by inviting my 8 year old grand-daughter, Tilly, along for a morning walk and breakfast with the ‘old men’. Suitably refreshed after her special couple of days with the Make-a-Wish foundation Disney bunch, she certainly jumped at the opportunity and brought along the family dog Alfie for his second week in a row.
Meeting at the church in Fifehead Magdalene, the dogs quickly got reacquainted and Tilly introduced herself to Richard and Dereck, (who I still don’t think she believed was her mummy’s teacher at school), we were soon off on an anti clockwise loop as the early morning mist slowly burnt off to reveal many blue patches and some high level clouds.
Passing through the millennium trees we headed south through open fields towards Marnhull and the River Stour, and once off the lead Sully entered into his usual Saturday morning routine by rolling in a recently spread field and any clumps of dirt and straw he could find. It didn’t take him long to get pretty filthy, as he encouraged Scrumpy to follow his lead and join him in this rather smelly ritual.
Reaching the banks of the Stour all the dogs followed Sully as he made a bee-line for the water although with the sides covered in so much weed there was hardly space for him to squeeze through. Taking the easier option of crossing by the bridge, it was good to see that a recent refurbishment had brightened up the bridge and certainly made it far safer than on our last trip some 12 months ago.
Just touching the northern most edges of Marnhull we took a sharpe left and headed east, with the summit of Duncliffe woods just visible although still shrouded by the early morning mist. Working our way alongside the river we entered a field of very tall maize whose edge plants had been almost swamped with bindweed. Slowly the pathway became narrower and before we knew it our route was through the middle of 8 foot tall plants, thankfully widely enough spaced for dogs and walkers to pass through. Keeping the dogs on the lead was quite a task as they switched tracks often, but Tilly did a stirling job keeping hold of Alfie in such challenging circumstance. After what seemed like half a mile but was probably more like 100m the stile was located and over it we went, to come out by the edge of a small fishing lake.
With no fishermen on the banks this week we took the opportunity to take a breather and pose for todays photo for the records! Another needy supply of chubby lollies were distributed by Dereck and we headed across the road for the steady climb up towards Stour Provost. And that’s when it hit us!
Climbing the style we were immediately met by a solid wall of sweet corn plants blocking the way, with no sign of any walked path either through the stalks or around the edge. So, there was only one thing to do, set a compass and march on a bearing until we made it through to the other side. In practise, and without a compass between us, we nominated Dereck to take the lead and with a bit of comparing of last years track through a then open grassy field compared to the current GPS location we took off into the unknown. Left off the lead this time Sully and Alfie were free to find their own way through and we caught the occasional glimpses of them as they ran through at low level unhindered by leaves and cobs of corn. Walking along in the direction of planting we stayed pretty true to the old line and when the plants changed to being across the route we knew the end was in sight. We all had a bit of a laugh brushing through the leaves but Tilly being that much smaller was able to duck down and run through almost unhindered most of the time. Turning right at the hedge line there was a small strip of field which allowed for easier progress, although the two loose dogs, missing for a few minutes, had decided to take the easier option of going through the hedge into the open fields the other side, walking parallel to us.
A few awkward stlies and both sheep and electric fences continued to slow our progress but we passed the bottom of a beautiful garden, with robot cutting the grass, and made our way alongside a gorgeous thatched cottage onto the lane down to the mill.
Stopping for a brief look at the restored mill and the four guinea fowl on the fence, we crossed the river again and headed back up through a field of sheep to the church and the cars. 3.1 miles in just under 2 hours of walking at a slightly slower pace than previous, due to the maize mazes predominately. A five minute drive to Udder farm shop and we were ready for breakfast, unfortunately for us they had stopped serving a few minutes earlier and so it was back in the car and via the back lanes over to our favourite spot at Thorngrove garden centre. We were very close to missing out there also but a bit of smooth talking and thankfully there was just enough left for four small breakfasts. Taking a table in the full sunshine initially, we moved under the shade to enjoy our hard earned reward for the day. Tilly cleared the majority of her plateful as she told us of her favourite Disney characters and princess’s and of her siblings and chickens. She is now a fully inducted member of the Saturday walking group and we hope to have her join us for the occasional walk in the future. Well done Tilly, as always you were ‘Amazing’. Love you x
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