Wednesday 16 July 2014

Last walk in Herefordshire

Today is my last day at Andy and Karen's place. Andy needs to check the route of a walk he is leading for a walking festival in September so we decide on a quick 8 km excursion. That means we are not stopping to take photos or admire the view, think fast walking on my part!  The weather is overcast but not cold. Good for a brisk walk. We walk through a field where I hear this rather strange rushing noise and when I turn around it is a mob of cattle running with us. When we srop they stop and stare. When we resume they resume running with us. I was a bit unnerved but  Andy said they were just curious and sure enough they just turned a few minutes later and took off to the other end of the field.
 The curious cows

All goes well until the path seems to disappear. We go up a hill to scout the area flushing several sheep from the bracken in which they have been concealed. There is no wood as expected so we return to the lower end of the hill and plunge into a path of bracken. It is so tall Andy nearly disappears and of course I do. It conceals head height thistles and stinging nettles as well as a few blackberry bushes. By the time we walk out at where a stile is in the fence indicating this is the way, our arms are tingling from nettle sting. I am wearing short sleeves of course. It feels  a bit like sunburn, not painful just tingling. The walk organisers will need to clear this part of the public path!

 The bracken track
 Andy walking ahead of me in the bracken track.

We get home without further incident and get ready for dinner at Jules in Weobley. I am taking everyone to dinner as a thank you for having me stay. The food is fabulous and they have lots of great vegetarian options as well as meat dishes.
By the end of dinner after, Cornish mussels, pork in cider and gooseberry pie, followed by white nectarines and raspberries with mango sorbet I can hardly walk. 
 



I am not used to such big meals now. This is a fabulous restaurant. With all the food and after the vigorous walk I am really tired. Oh well. Not much to pack as I am back to a backpack. Andy and Karen present me with a Tshirt  that has" Mad dog tours and  its Latin motto is, no repeat customers." Andy's nick name is Mad Dog.  I am privileged to be received into the club. I will be sad to leave the Logaston crew. 

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