Ye gads, I must add to this blog! So here goes with some recent stuff….
We were on holiday from late April up to bank holiday Monday….which was pretty good. After I made a quick trip over to Great Yarmouth to see mum and dad and sort out more junk in the attic, we did a day walking around the beautiful town of Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire. We had a great day of country walking in gentle green hills and sunny weather. Nice picnic as well. On our way home, we stopped off in Birmingham and got loads of Chinese food in Chinatown. Carla made several yummy meals with this!
A couple of days later we moved on to Shropshire. What a beautiful county, and so close to us! The first day we stayed in Ludlow. The town is ok in a sort of old-y-world-y middle-class kind-a way. The castle ruins are certainly worth a visit and the woodland near to the river is lovely to walk in on a sunny afternoon. Lots of very tame ducks there! Shame the stupid fair was in town to clog up the market place, and we had the usual trouble with getting decent vegan options when it came to eating out. Great B+B though! Anyway, afterwards we moved on to Church Stretton for a few days to go walking in the picturesque hills. This was with a group of fellow walkers from all over the country, and lead by a local expert. Not bad, but I think that we prefer to do our own thing, as we felt a little restricted by going on a set path and having to walk with others. Also, the food in the hotel was rubbish as once again, these idiots don't know the concept of a vegan diet….or even soya milk. Still, the actually walking was fabulous, as the countryside is stunning there. No wonder they call it 'Little Switzerland'. Thankfully we had nice weather up to bank holiday Monday, when the rain and mist descended on us when were up walking the Stiperstones. Thank goodness for waterproofs! Two days before, on the summit of Caer Caradoc it was hot and sunny!
I need to get the photos sorted out, as we had a film to finish in our 35mm camera. Hopefully I will remember to take them into ASDA and get them on-line soon.
...more of my catch up blogging tomorrow…
Cannock Chase is a large area of woodland and moorland to the North of Birmingham. There are many way-marked paths to follow either by foot, or on horse-back or by mountain bike. On this, our first visit, we found
some interesting little lakes and a stream in a heavily wooded valley of mixed trees (see photo to the left). Most of the new planting on the moorland is made up of tall coniferous trees (see right!) The area has been planted since the 1920's, and the area has a rich military history from both the First and Second World Wars (two bases, a hospital and training area etc.)