Yesterday...it rained nearly all day, so I splodged the dog for a brief local walk through rain and mud, even tried to get a photo of the ducks who were all on the village green, probably finding loads of worms close to the surface of the normally carefully maintained grass. As for using the camera, it went back in my body warmer pocket, in order to keep it dry. Today being sunnier and incredibly mild for this, only the third day of the year, a lovely local lady called Liz, came for a walk with the dog and I. She took us past the farm where she was born and showed me a walk that led along field edges to the River Cam near Upware, the lower level, more sheltered dykes were a pea green with all the duck weed.
It was late afternoon and really very mild considering this is only the third day of the year. The sky was showing promise of a glowing sunset an despite the mud, we and the water loving mutt were having fun. It was great to be out walking with someone so full of local knowledge.
She took me to an area known locally as The Jurassic Pit where masses of fossils have been found over the years, now so excavated, that fossil hunters have had to stop digging, but it was an educational place to take school children and there is a lovely wooden plaque commemorating a local and I'm told very inspirational school teacher, June Mc Auley.
We waded our way through mud sludgy paths, through bare branched trees and fascinating old stumps, green with moisture loving mosses. It was the kind of place that one might find Tolkien's "Mewlips." Liz tells me that in the spring and summer this area takes on a whole different perspective and I can quite believe it. She loved playing here as a child and now takes her own three children to visit this fascinating low lying hollow, so close to the River Cam. On the way back I saw this >>>
reflections of a leafless willow in dyke water as the sun was beginning to set. In the background the sounds of many bird species chattering and calling before daylight faded.
Just before we returned to the car, we went to look at the house boats moored up near the pub. Many had warm light & the scents of fires emanating from on board. A January start mild enough to enjoy being on the river. Liz told me that as kids they skated on the ice here and one of her uncles (when it freezes over) still gets his skates out as he has done for years. This evening as we stood watching the sun setting, two swans graced the scene.
She took me to an area known locally as The Jurassic Pit where masses of fossils have been found over the years, now so excavated, that fossil hunters have had to stop digging, but it was an educational place to take school children and there is a lovely wooden plaque commemorating a local and I'm told very inspirational school teacher, June Mc Auley.
reflections of a leafless willow in dyke water as the sun was beginning to set. In the background the sounds of many bird species chattering and calling before daylight faded.
Just before we returned to the car, we went to look at the house boats moored up near the pub. Many had warm light & the scents of fires emanating from on board. A January start mild enough to enjoy being on the river. Liz told me that as kids they skated on the ice here and one of her uncles (when it freezes over) still gets his skates out as he has done for years. This evening as we stood watching the sun setting, two swans graced the scene.
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