Coronavirus pandemic stops us walking as a group.

The Coronavirus pandemic has caused us to cancel our walk to Belton House, this is for the third year running for one reason or the other. 

So, no daffodils again this year, apart from a couple of photos taken this week at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.

Sadly, the pandemic has forced us to cancel all further walks until we are told it is safe to walk in groups again.

We will really miss our walks with our friends but let's all stay positive, keep in touch and look forward to the next one.

13.03.2020 Walking from Ashby Parva to Dunton Bassett approx 4 miles.

We all met up at the Holly Bush, a proper country pub in the village of Ashby Parva. 

Walking out of the village on a dry day made a very nice change.

"This red oak was planted to mark the Centenary of the Armistice which ended the First World War 1918-2018" - quote on the plaque.

 A good example of hedge laying - the process of bending and partially cutting (pleaching) through the stems of a line of shrubs or small trees near ground level and arching the stems without breaking them, so they can grow horizontally and be intertwined.

Continuing our walk down one of our favourite lanes.

In the distance a couple of long sheds containing hundreds of hens producing thousands of eggs.

We're well into the lambing season now.

On our way to the outskirts of Dunton Bassett.

About turn and off we go back the way we came. Hope the rainy season ends soon so we can start walking in the fields again.

Found a public notice giving details of a new footpath between Dunton Lane and Leire Road - could be very useful for future walks.

First tractor that we have seen on the land for a couple of months - it's been far too wet.

Nice gentle stroll, no rush, not a bad way to spend your day.

A horse and rider passed by with cheery wave.

Back into Ashby Parva.

A bus !! they are quite lucky here, they get a bus once an hour.

Next week we're off to Belton House and the daffodil display - looking forward to it.

6/03/2020 Walking around Draycote Water approx. 5.8 miles.

The sun is out at last for our trip to Draycote Water. 

We all met in the small village of Thurlaston near the reservoir.

The picturesque village has many quaint nooks and crannies. There's the old farm yard with Del Boy's old three wheeler car disappearing around the corner.  

You can just spot the peacock on top of the thatched roof.

Out of the village on the path down to the reservoir. 

Another group was walking in the same direction - just shows what a bit of sunshine does.

A cracking photo of a Little Egret eyeing up its breakfast.

Nearly half way round.

           

Reflections created around the reservoir water tower.

Photos of the reservoir from different angles.

Similar scene taken by two photographers pretty much at the same time and place.

Then into the cafe. It was very busy but fortunately the management had reserved some seats for us so we were able to sit as a group.

The scone appreciation society. Is that Cornish or Devon style?

Doesn't matter how expert you are, you still get sticky fingers.

More chat and stories of the day.

After our break we set off to complete our circuit of the reservoir. 

A short pause for the others to catch up.

Fascinating views that most of us don't see because of the chat of the day.

 What a picture!

The famous two men in a boat?

Then back to the cars and home.

Lovely spring day and a great walk - see you next week.