Comings and Goings at Cromford

 Comings and Goings at Cromford

May 13th 2021

The assembled group were a little bit astonished that we had gathered even before the cafe had opened but we managed to pass the time with a good catch up of our activities now that we have been granted a bit more freedom and Pam was able to provide us with floribunda as the word of the day, bizarrely inspired by her time spent (or possibly misspent) in the garden at the Oak.

Sadly Jo was poorly and couldn’t be with us and Maggie was off rambling with the Ramblers. Julia joined us for coffee but had to dash off with a man in a van and we all hope that she will be able to have ice in her gin and tonic very soon.

Gifts were duly distributed to those May born babes amongst us

The sun was almost out and the day thankfully stayed dry in fact it turned out to be quite warm and layers had to shed as we walked on - Helen J in charge of the weather again! 

Coffee break complete we said goodbye to Julia and set off to walk along the canal.

Tali and Betty couldn’t resist taking a dip - Betty is not happy to be back on her lead but the danger of her getting tangled up with walking sticks and cyclists was just too great.

Yellow rattle and red campion - the canal banks are bursting with colour and the smell of wild garlic.

A welcome rest at High Peak Junction and the parting of the ways, Alison off to the dentist, walking back to the Wharf with Lynn and Pam off to higher things up the incline. So just the two Helens and Betty continuing along the canal.

Betty seems to be saying ‘will you lot please stop chatting so that we can get on with this walk’ and eventually we did.

Aqueduct Cottage is looking very good with a wonderful new roof and with lots of volunteers working away but happy to chat with us about what they are doing.

So the two Helen’s walked on to Whatstandwell and everywhere is looking so beautiful and green. Lots of chatting and motorhome adventure stories, a bit of bird spotting and flora identification.

No refreshments available at the end but a five minute sit on a bench and then we headed back to the Wharf.

Canada geese

Mallard

Swallows

chiffchaff

blue tit

great tit

blackcap

wren

robin

blackbird

buzzard

grey heron

pheasant

wood pigeon

little grebe

moorhen

coot

pied wagtail 

magpie

jay

jackdaw

crow

skylark

plus a pair of hens, one white duck and a dead fish and Alison reported a sighting of two peacocks - one of them white 

23 real birds for the day.. not bad considering we were chatting and not concentrating