Woodland Trail

Drove a short distance to my destination run (I was going to cycle but took the dog) which is one of my favourite local walks through an old wooded track running alongside a stream for the beginning part of the route and then opens out into meadows and fields with more trees and one or two derelict stone buildings. It's full of atmosphere and you can almost feel the ghosts of the past walking home from their daily work but this evening it was only myself and the dog.


We had a very energising run and startled a buzzard who lumbered slowly from his post into the air and could hear cracks and rustlings in the undergrowth as the wildlife sensed our presence. The track drops down into a small tree lined gully where it meets the stream again and passes through some old gnarled trees, smoothed by the footsteps of people who have clambered through their branches until it opens into a field rising up on the far side of the valley.


We kept to the valley floor where the track follows the trees and finally came to a gate which read, "STRICTLY NO DOGS" which would have taken us on a circular route so we headed back the same way which wasn't at all disappointing because it's like heaven on earth. The dog took a second swim in the river and we both ran soft footed on the leafy track. Nevertheless, we caused a deep, russety fox to turn at heel as we rounded the corner. I stood at a flat spot by the stream and did a little Qi Gong before carrying on back to the car.


It always seems a shame to have to turn back from these exquisite, dry, quiet evenings with the golden  sunlight and head home.


I'm very grateful to Cathy White for organising Juneathon because I know without it I would have stayed at home doing  'houseworky' stuff and not taken the opportunity to get outside and enjoy our beautiful planet.


Luckily, there was a dish of spaghetti with fresh spinach from the garden, pesto, parmesan and a few olives with garlic waiting for me - how fortunate I am.