A Truly Tree-delicious Tansley
14th December 2018
We were off to a good start with Maggie, Alison, Jo and the Helens all meeting up according to Jo's very precise timetable of activities. A good wintry sunshiney day ordered by yours truly. Plus, Betty and Bob promised their very best behaviour too. Pam would arrive later but Charlotte and Julia were lighting up London, so a bit too far to come.
Proof of progress.
Clearly, today was going to be...
..a barrel load of fun.
The last time the babes had attempted this trip, it were raining a fair bit, with rumours of lashings of water tumbling down the street and from above, drenching the wenches. So much so, that Lynn (with an alleged soggy bottom) declared an about turn and headed back to the pub. She made sure this was not going to happen again, so joined us later in the dry. This was as far as some babes got last time.
Maggie does a rain-check and declares we can continue.
We tootled along with wonderful views of the long and winding road through Tansley.
Bob is allowed to take the lead
Betty: Fancy a luxury holiday, Bob?
Bob: Nah. Julia's offered to take us in!
We found a path which led us into the woods towards the waterfall. To liven up our walk we had a little practice of how to watch kiwis in the dark, which involved a lot of very precise military style manoeuvres. Needless to say, we didn't see any. Perhaps it was because dogs aren't allowed in kiwi areas. We did however see a couple of alpaca which are allowed to live in kiwi land.
Versatile alpaca, available for nativities. Speciality: doubling up as sheep or camel.
You've been framed!
Babes a bit lost in the wood
About turn... it's this way!
Whilst trying to get back to the proper path, we try a bit of cloud spotting
Success!
And we eventually find a bit of a waterfall, but it isn't the right bit.
Good for a tree-creeper though.
We do another about turn and end up going in the right direction.
Jo cleaning up the poster.
Middle pond reflections
Lower pond reflection.
And finally, we arrive at exactly the right place, a little further down the way than originally thought. It is a beautiful waterfall and definitely worth the wait.
But perhaps it is a bit too much for one person...
Ahhh.. not another one!
The ruins of the old, now not working multi-purpose mills: lead smelting, bleaching, saw mills, of Lumsdale are still quite impressive. A pity the ground is still polluted with little growing on it. History suggests we should learn from this, but.....
Two ruins for the price of one!
We can't linger. Gotta meet Lynn. But we do stop to admire the local countryside. There is a bit of a bark off with a field of sheep. And despite some very sturdy stares, Betty succeeded in frightening the whole flock away.
Up the Rams!
We make it in time to the Gate Inn, espying Lynn with her coffee and Pam joins us just intime for lunch. There is quite a lot of catch up to be had and a lot of advice given. Stop storing and get rid of stuff! Just incase you get peckish later, take a doggy box-bag when travelling in the States and NZ. If you've done three morning paper rounds on a round of toast, you are entitled to lunch. Cook all things at 200 degrees c. When in Marrakech, check out Yves St Laurent's garden and clothing department... much better than the souks!
Maggie with a man on her head!
Further treats awaited us, in of all places the car park!
Yep.. seasonal exchanges. Anyone left out?
In convoy, we then tootled down the road to the local church for our next surprise. A delightful collection of locally decorated Christmas trees.
We all agreed with Alison's favourite.
Further treats were instore at the local Garden Centre for most babes, but no photos to prove it. The Helens drove off down the somewhat busy A38 in a blaze of a blindingly good setting sun. I passed you Helen, did you see me?
A small bird list of 12 for the day, but a rather festive count:
Blackbird
Coal tit (bird of the day)
Great tit
Crow
Magpie
Mallard
Mistle thrush
Sparrow
Starling
Tree creeper
Wood pigeon
Wren
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