Christmas walking

As always, it seems, when I am with family and friends I do far more walking than went on my own.  So over the Christmas period so far I've had some lovely little walks.

On Christmas Day we walked the seawall at Teignmouth past Spray Point towards where work was continuing to clear the landslip on the railway track.  The tide was going out.  The sea and sky were blue.  It was warm in the sunshine.  Everything looked beautiful.

And on Boxing Day we walked the back road through Decoy towards Kingskerswell to see the archaeological dig that has uncovered Roman remains, and the site of the new South Devon link road (only 50 years in the planning).  We passed old landmarks and old memories stirred.  An old friend waved from her car as she drove past.  And it rained, and rained.  Water ran through all the gullies.  The dig looked like a quagmire.  We looked at the view from the site - down to the Teign, Haldon hills beyond, green fields, streams, convenient for the local shops...

By  the time we got home we were completely soaked.  But it was lovely, warm(ish) Devon rain.  My skin feels soft, and best of all my boots were waterproof.

Advent walk 3: To the carol service

A bit of a cop-out, this one, but despite my best intentions, Christmas has crept up on me all of a sudden and all plans for a reflective advent went out of the window and in came cake and pudding making, present wrapping, card posting and general planning for the long trek south.  But Wednesday evening was our carol service and so I set out to walk to church.  It's a short but familiar stretch now made special by a row of houses who seem to be in competition as to who can fit the largest tree in the bay window.  Lights twinkle from said trees in all colours.  Lights and garlands adorn the doorframes.  Cards and ornaments (a colour changing Santa!) deck windowsills.  Everything is festive and bright.  And believe me, with all that is going on at work Christmas cheer is in very short supply - no reindeer antlers and flashing earrings this year, no secret santa.  Grateful to the householders who has taken all this trouble, I walked on to Westoe Fountain where the council have once again decorated the trees.  My friend was waiting for me and together we headed down Westoe Road to St Michaels church.  Inside it was subtly lit with candles and tealights and a Christmas tree.  In the calm surroundings we enjoyed singing the familiar carols, listening to the choir, and munching festive shortbread afterwards.  I made my way home again past the glittering lights and felt that maybe Christmas had begun.

Advent walk 2: Seaburn beach

A cold and bright morning found me at Seaburn with Charles Trenet's 'La Mer' still ringing in my ears.  I suppose there are worse things than being unable to detached yourself from an absurdly cheerful song.  I did wonder what he would have written had he been thinking of the North Sea off Sunderland.  Even des oiseaux blancs were keeping out of it today.  The tide was coming in so I couldn't walk right round on the beach as I had planned.  Instead I walked along the prom to the dog and cat steps where I paused and watched the waves come charging in,  looking across to the pier where the white horses galloped on to the beach.

I turned and headed back and then onto the beach to walk as far as the fish deli.  There were a few dog walkers.  The sand was firm and clean and there was plenty of seaweed that had been washed up, still clinging to its rock.  As I walked back along the sand to the car, the sky was blue, there was a shining path of silver along the bay, tiny birds flitted about in the low cliffs and the white horses galloped proudly onward.  Monsieur, I have the soul of a poet - if only I could write music and sing...

Advent Walk 1: Shields beach

I'd had grand plans for Advent.  Time for waiting, preparation and reflection - all incorporated in my weekly walk.  But when the day for the first walk came, I found I couldn't settle to it.  I had to really be firm with myself to even go out!  In the end I bumbled along Mowbray Road with the jaunty strains of La Mer by Charles Trenet ringing in my ears. (I'm addicted at the moment and have to listen to it at least once a day!).

I intended to cut across to Erskine Road and then down to the beach, but the footpath was blocked by roadworks, so I ended up walking round two sides of Westoe cemetery (the two sides I don't usually see) and was struck by the war graves and the ornate stones to Shieldsmen past, including one who was 'thrice mayor of Shields'.

Once on the seafront I began to feel more in the mood for walking.  Down onto the beach via the walkway through the dunes, and there - the lovely stretch of the beach.  The sea was roaring in and crashing against the pier.  Marsden was in haze.  In the middle of busyness, the beach was a place of calm, a place to reflect on ten years here.

Black clouds were gathering, so I decided not to walk further along the Leas, but headed up towards the Coast Road.  As I looked back I could see the rainbow forming over the sea.  God keeps his promises.  I remember watching rainbows over the water with other friends.  Ten years!  Through the allotments to Westoe village.  Ten years!  And home.  Ten years!