Awful weather in Allestree

 

Following a last minute cancellation of a Gelly Babe trip last week where Alison was the only one guaranteed to make an appearance, a new date gathered four of us together: both Helens, Alison and Jo, plus Betty, of course.

 

Helen J, having just had a fabulous Nordic walk in Allestree in glorious sunshine, was dismayed when Alison pulled up in her car and brought with her the summer rain! Hot on her wheels, Helen and Betty arrived.  Whilst waiting for Jo, whose avid following of the satnav led her up the wrong path, we had to take our first shelter … a few droplets at this stage.  A very excitable Betty noisily announced her arrival thus guiding Jo to the right place.

 

Whilst Allestree Park is a local ‘go-to’ place for pokemon hunting, the gamers were outwitted by the Elite Four who captured the celebrity Cloughie Coach.  But the Babes, not knowing quite what to do with their find (or is it fiend?), released him back into the wild woods and settled for a coffee with chips(!)…

...where we are definitely in our comfort zone.

 

After a quick travelogue taking in Costa del Hornsea, Costa Rica and  Costa Lotta Wedding Weeks, we set off engrossed in Helen M’s latest house view-buy-sell-by escapade and await the next instalment with bated breath. There’s no shilly-shallying with some Babes.

Helen M, still optimistic the sun will stay out.

 

And, perfectly timed, we hit the woods

 

Himalayan balsam; the friar’s favourite

 

 

Betty the rat-catcher

 

Mite there be galls here?

 

Jo spots another pokemon character

 

Despite Helen J’s attempts to keep everyone dry, the Babes have to emerge at some point, so it’s hoods up time

 

Braving the weather

 

 

 

And keeping our eyes peeled for errant golf balls, we head across the golf course

 

Betty kindly tidying up the 9^th hole

 

Encouraged by plans to re-introduce highland cattle for grazing and the development of  meadow pastures, we take the path across the fields. By now, with wet hair but spirits not dampened, we can’t resist a walk around the lake for a bit of bird-spotting even if we can’t properly identify them all.

 

So, it must be a Pokemon bird…

 

Appropriately named ...

 

 

Although disappointed not to have seen the resident or even heard the green woodpeckers, we managed 15 birds. * marked as this year’s first sighting, bringing us to 52 for the year, and one off our total target! 

 

blackbird

black-headed gull

canada geese

coot

crow

golden-eye

greylag*

little grebe

magpie

mallard

moorhen

robin

swallow

wood pigeon

wren