November Navigations

A wag of a tale……………

A walk in Calke

(Part One)

Running to Pam’s timings and with Alison’s back street tour of Derby, Maggie, Pam and Alison arrived at Helen J’s exactly as expected.  After inspection of the not-so-new kitchen and conservatory they set off to try and catch up with Helen M who had planned to be there yesterday……all going well so far.

 With the round car park shut, courtesy of anti-social behaviour goings-on in Calke village, Alison did a bit of nifty reversing and we parked up on the verge. After some good birding:

 

Is it a bird?  Is it superman

No, it’s Ryanair… aeroplane of the day.

However, after only her third trip out, Alison’s shortcomings started to show as her wildlife  spotting skills let her down when she announced she could see the deer with horns. Deary, me! Saw plenty of red, white (winter camouflage?) and fallow deer in the distance, but sadly no noisy rutters.  Had to settle for bellowing cattle … note, with horns!

 The  Helen’s tried to finalise ‘the meeting’. So, how does…”if you are in the car park, turn to have your back to the house and set off down the path, keeping the deer fence to your right and meet you by the pond” translate into

 

 I’ve got my back to the front of the house,

so, where are you?

 Luckily, Betty is developing good tracking skills and soon found us.  So finally we had our first coffee of the day and fortunately for Helen M and Betty it was sunny enough for all of us to sit outside… although ‘Abigail’ was definitely stirring.

 

 Someone is excited to see us .. can’t think who that might be?

 Betty’s take on the day so far...

(Part One)

Sheep poo for breakfast… yum!I’m quite happy jumping up at everyone thank you very much.

 

When I grow up I’m going to sit like them,but right now I’m enjoying my puppyhood .

If you all walk abreast together (as in Reservoir Dogs), I know where you are and I don’t have to keep herding you up!

Branches are better than sticks.

 And a Saunter in Staunton

(Part Two)

With Calke now behind us, we all set off to check out whether Betty, or indeed Helen M,  had remembered anything from puppy training.  Rendezvous number two then planned and after a brief au revoir, the walkers continued on towards to Staunton Harold.

 

Forging ahead.

 With autumn now truly set in, we enjoyed the rustling leaves, the muddy fields, the lush Leicestershire houses and views.

 

Here’s looking at ewe

 

 Lynn’s other home is definitely near here …

 Ahh… might this be it?  Pity she won’t answer the door!

 With Betty safely tucked up in the van, we all had a lovely lunch at the Ferrers tea rooms and without Betty-type interruptions,  we caught up with all sorts including:  proof of Alison’s knitting prowess (only the camel, donkey, cows with horns and inn to go), the far-reaching powers of chilli peppers, Nigella’s latest acquisition with an avocado, wine case offers, outstanding motorway service stations, friends who have become authors (there’s a story in there somewhere) and trying to find a suitable date for December.

 After a little browsing in the art and craft rooms, we set off for the final leg of our journey.

 

Betty’s take on the day…

part two

Feathers for afternoon tea… yum Yes, I do like checking out to see how deep the puddles are; the muddier, the better. And I do like checking out how soft the mole hills are; the more soil I can get on my nose, the better

 

And yes, treats help me to sit down

 

 

 and lie flat.

 

Saying farewell but thinking,

‘I wonder if I’ve been good enough to become a Betty babe?’

 With final farewells to Helen M and Betty (puppy of the day; knitted rosette on its way), the walkers continued into Dimminsdale Nature Reserve, and dreamt of spring walks with snowdrops, bluebells and wild garlic.

 

Not much ‘fun’ without Jo.

 

And with the setting of the sun, we came to the end of a glorious autumn walk

 Bird list today:

Blackbird, black headed gull, blue tit, buzzard, chaffinch , coal tit, cormorant, coot, crow, dunnock, great crested grebe, great tit, grey heron, house sparrow, jackdaw, little grebe (or dabchick), magpie, mallard, moorhen, mute swan, pheasant, redwing* (silhouettes) , robin, rook*, teal (duck of the day), tree sparrow*, tufted duck, wigeon, wood pigeon, woodpecker silhouette, wren (32 in total – a good score for the day).

*First records  for the year.  We are 55 for the year so far… who cares about targets!

Our thanks to Betty babe for providing so much fun!