Calleva Atrebatum

That's Silchester nowadays.  A bit spooky to walk round a field on a wet and misty day and read information boards telling you that this was once a bustling Iron Age and then Roman town.  The remains of the walls are still visible and Reading University are excavating other bits, but of the life that once was here nothing is left.  A town that was once a principle stage on the journey west now no longer exists.

There is birdsong, and wildlife and nature but human society has moved on.  Why?  Londinium went from strength to strength but not Calleva.

This is it!

It was Sunday.  I was reluctant to use my car in the evening as I'd been told twice the day before that one of my rear lights wasn't working, and I didn't want to be told a third time by a police officer.  So there was only one option for getting from my house to the Lawe Top - walk.  OK, I suppose I could have bussed part of it, but actually once I was all wrapped up and in my stride going down Chichester Road I realised yet again that I do just enjoy walking.  Once again the old brain had a chance to process a few things while I pounded the pavements, just like the good old days!  It took half an hour, maybe less. 

Walking home was OK too.  I wasn't late and even though there were a few 'characters' about I felt safe in the well-lit streets, adopting the 'they're more afraid of you than you are of them' approach.

It's at times like this that I begin to wonder if I really do need a car.  Sure, I'd need public transport to get to work, but then the pass would be valid for frawsies at the weekend.  Maybe I could.  Maybe I should.

Along the Leas to Souter Lighthouse

Even though my walk a week year is finished I've still been doing bits and pieces of walks.  But today was Spring!  And maybe for one day only, so I though I'd take advantage of the sun and walk along the Leas to Souter.

I got onto the coast road by the Bamburgh pub and crossed onto the Leas.  I took the path across the middle, rather than round the edge and was soon nearing Marsden Grotto.  It is still 'clarty' as we good Geordies say, but drying up all the time.  Half of Shields was out walking the dog, or jogging or riding bikes and just strolling along.   The sea looked lovely and the Leas are starting to look green again.  Souter, of course, never changes and after a quick canter round the shop I headed back to Marsden beach.

The steps down to the beach did wonders for my knees!  The left one was a bit creaky but it was fine by the time I got to the sand.  I walked along the beach, marvelling yet again at the sculptural effects of the cliffs, and watching the seabirds beginning to nest.  Then it was up the slope and along by the Velvet Beds and the cliff tops to the road down to the Waterfront.

From there I headed inland to Highfield Road, Westoe and home.

How many miles?  Must have been a few and I felt quite tired by the end.  But, Hadrian's Wall beckons so I'd better start getting fit!

Unexpected walk - late December

This one happened late 2012 but I haven't written it up before.  It all began when I couldn't get the car to start.  It was a hire car and I just knew that there was no real problem, just something silly, and that if I called a man to it, it would start straight away.  But I was en route to a friend's for tea and chat - what to do?  I toyed with the idea of getting my brother either to take me to my friend's or to try and start the car.  Then I thought 'get a grip - why not just walk?'.  And so on a blustery but not-quite-raining Devon evening I walked the 30 minutes to my friend's house.  It gave me a chance to look at the familiar sights, to see the water level in the river, to see where new shops have opened, and to churn all kinds of things over in my mind.  And to realise that 30 minutes isn't actually that long, in the good old days I would have walked this without thinking about it.

We had a good catch-up, and then my friend gave me a lift home - can't have too much of a good thing I guess!

So, that's my year of weekly walks complete!  I have managed one way or another to take a walk once a week for a whole year!  But there is still unfinished business - I'm talking about Hadrian's Wall!  And there are other walks I'd like to do next year.  Watch this space!

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...