We walked this short leg with our friend, Hilary. It seemed much shorter than even the short walk it was, about 4.5 miles, probably because we chatted throughout, losing all track of time. The first mile and a half was along the river bank, where we had close up views of a cormorant, fishing from a branch in the middle of the swollen river, and of a heron on the opposite bank. The route took us South past Trees Please where three or so years ago we bought the whips which have now grown into the eight feet or so high hedge we were pruning yesterday; across a busy road along which a farmer was herding a large flock of sheep, within seconds causing a long tailback; and past Dilston Physic Garden, unfortunately closed for the winter; through rather muddy woodland and uphill, before we dropped back down into Hexham.
Lunch stop in the Queens Hall. And this evening we enjoyed some of Hilary’s cooking apples, baked. Lovely! The story of how one escaped and rolled behind the washing machine where it is still stuck along with the head of the brush with which attempts were made to retrieve it does not, you’ll be relieved to hear, remotely belong in this blog.
Flora and Fauna: cormorant, heron, bilberries.
Transport: Our car to Hexham where we picked up Hilary and drove to Corbridge; lift back into Corbridge from Hilary. Our car home.
