Part 2 of Our Adventurous Walk. 16.1.10

A drop of melting snow hangs from bronze coloured bracken


Buster and I have an Adventure. Part 2

Buster and I ploughed on through the bog and the sun even made an effort to come out. I had thought I might walk to the house of Clare and Terry, a couple I had met a short while ago. They said 'walk through the bog path and turn left when you get to the road'.

From The Deenery, in the Winter we can see a swathe of red through the trees and both Jim and I have wondered what the red is - I think I've discovered the answer with this photo!

When we drive along the road going to the main road, we cross a river. This same river travels through the bog:

Here it is. We also have rights to collect water from this river - that will be from the days when the inhabitants didn't have water to their own land or into their houses.

I passed another pond on the other side. Can you see that branch hanging down, covered in lichen?



As the sun beamed more strongly, the droplets on all the trees shone out. I tried to capture this feature, but only one photo was even half a success:


If you click on it to enlarge it, the droplets show more clearly.

I came to a turning to the left which obviously had a gate at one time, so I guessed Clare and Terry must live along that road.


We walked along this path and once more crossed over the river:


It's wider here and even has a little beach.

I came to another gateway and went through it and could see the house up ahead:


The road was hard to walk on, it was either very icy or had humps and bumps from the cows! Still, we carried on until we reached the farmhouse. Hmm, I guess I took the wrong turning:


So I walked past the cottage into a field which led to the lake again:


I took this to show my shadow deliberately. Now what I didn't fancy was walking back the same way. My feet were a bit wet. Also, there used to be a style across the farmer's fence and now that this route is no longer the East Clare Way, he has sawed down the style and put barbed wire across it. The only way I could get through was to crawl under it! I looked from the edge of the lake to my left and could see the fishing stand where I usually take Buster, behind Kevin's farmhouse:

Can you see it in the distance? I wondered whether I would be able to walk along the edge of the lake back to Kevin's and decided to have a go. Buster was game! Well, to cut a long story short, I did make it but my feet were dripping! It was much faster on the way back than on the outward journey!

When I was nearing the Fishing Stand, Buster disappeared:


But I soon spotted him way out on the Fishing Stand, back on familiar territory!

I took 200 or so photos so I have spared you a lot of them! I walked home hurriedly with my soggy feet and trousers and was greeted through the window by the lovely Billy Boiler:

What a wonderful sight. I rushed inside, changed into dry clothing and a short while afterwards, Jim arrived back from his shopping trip!

Today it's been sunny apart from one flash of lightening and one clap of thunder, followed by a quick hail shower. I did some work outside, clearing fallen branches and twigs from trees in the orchard and moving an old turkey house that Jim had demolished last spring, onto the bonfire. It was dark by the time I came in and I was quite tired. Jim had been painting and he was worn out too. We watched a little tv and before long, both of us were asleep!

I hope you enjoyed the 2nd half of my walk. I'll add a couple more photos that I rather liked for those who're interested.

Cow parsley seed head, without snow or ice!


The skeleton of a barn at the old farmhouse.


This old ladder was completely rusty - it was the same colour as the iron roof.


A wind farm on the distant hills, the Fishing Stand and grasses in the foreground.


Grasses reflected.


Ice patterns - enhanced.


Purple Loose strife standing proud.

I hope every one's enjoying their weekend.