Friday 19th May 2017 Walking from Foston Church to Peatling Magna. approx 4mls.

This is one of our wet walks. If it's raining it is okay BUT if it starts to absolutely throw it down we can retreat ie turn around back to the cars and down to Countesthorpe Garden Centre to dry off.

Parking up at St Bartholomew's Church, Foston.

For info: Saint Bartholomew’s Church goes back to the 10th Century and contains many items of historical interest. It is a Grade 2* Listed building and is still in use as a working Anglican church, with regular services twice a month. A note from Foston Church web site in case anybody is interested.

We’re holding our annual Flower Festival over the weekend of Saturday 10 – Monday 12 June.

It’s one of the biggest events in the Foston calendar, when the church will be decorated with beautiful flower arrangements courtesy of local people and organisations.

Willie, Sheila and Naire home from New Zealand.

Where are we going to ?

No bridle paths for us today, we're staying on terra firma.

 Images from the start

Whichever way you looked it was grey and damp. Still, we need rain -  makes everything fresh again,  puts the smile back on farmers' faces.

It was somewhere over there.

Photographer at work.

The result.

                                      

Just think about it.

Look on the bright side.

This is a gated lane so all gates must be kept closed. It's quite surprising how many people leave them open after passing through.

On our way into Peatling Magna.

Another angle.

The local library.

The Cock Inn, Peatling Parva unfortunately doesn't open on a Friday afternoon.

Roses don't like too much sun - so it was a good day for roses!

Round the block in Peatling and on our way back.

On our way back and in the distance a bull with cows and calves. Walkers keep your distance.

Those clouds were really starting to roll around the sky. Just as well we were near the end of our walk.

A tree with legs - escaping from the wood behind?

 A wood in the making - planted about ten years ago, ready for thinning out now.  The cow parsley ground cover was spectacular.

 Down at the garden centre cafe we relaxed with coffee/tea and cakes.

Before saying goodbye we took the opportunity to have a browse around the garden centre. 

On Friday June 2nd we hope, weather permitting, to have a walk around part of Rutland Water. Please see email for more info.

18.5.2017 Willie and Sheila with Naire in New Zealand.

They do get around some exciting places, some of the experiences seen and explained below.  

 Just needed another look in more detail, fancy having a relative who took two hours to put their makeup on every morning.

Perhaps the tea might be cool by the time it gets to the cup. !!

They obviously had a great holiday - wonder where they will be off to next.

15/5/2017 Burbage Woods walk approx 4.5 mls.

Yuk, the start of the day could well be off putting, but it could get better as we go on. The man on the radio said so.

All wrapped up we set off into the woods at Burbage Common.

There were still traces of bluebells here and there - gorgeous!

Out of the woods into the fields and the rain holding off, although it was a bit on the grey side.

Down one overgrown bridleway, definitely needs to be used a bit more. Especially to keep the nettles at bay.

Crossing from the bridleway over to the road from Elmsthorpe to Burbage Common there's only single track used mostly by the locals.

All on his own - a Thelwell pony?

Making our way back towards the common and a two headed cow was spotted?

The sun started to poke it's head out and that's when all of a sudden you feel a bit overdressed.

Beautiful blossom in the hedgerows.

A farmer on his way to toss some muck, as we found out later.

Muck tossing, this pile looked quite warm. Had a familiar aroma too.

We heard a train approaching fast and the following shot is all we managed to get.

Changeable weather.

Over the railway on our way down to the cafe at the visitor centre.

Smiles all round at the thought of a cuppa just around the corner.

Who needs encouraging to eat cake?

The scones were quite delicious.

Well, why not.

Time to make tracks back to the cars.

The sky was still on the grey side but no rain.

Hopefully, the message is getting through.

Leaving the visitor centre heading back into the woods.

We try to keep a closer group here because it has been known for some to take the wrong track in the past.

All of a sudden a train approaches and we get some snaps.

Coming towards the end of the walk we came across a very friendly fellow.

 Unfortunately, we didn't have any food with us.

Another lovely walk with some great people.


P.S. Willie and Sheila have returned from New Zealand - can't wait to hear what they've been up to.