Sunday, November 21, 2010

Walk with me...

I have come to realise that I have not really fulfilled too many ‘out there’ goals this year, blaming a host of reasons for my lack of fitness, stamina and strength. It was whilst crafting a mail to my friend across the pond, Casey, that it finally dawned upon this here dimwit that I had been making all manner of excuses for my woes, but that’s exactly what they were excuses. So switching to computer off, leaving Casey’s mail unfinished, it was time for a change of tact. I’ve noticed that within my last few posts I have drifted away from my usual thread, that is primarily rambling on about the walks that myself and ol’ stinky take together and sharing them and their seasonal changes with anyone who may care to read my simple musings. This was also partly prompted by a delightful post from Claire at "Are we nearly there yet?”. So without further ado, put on your walking boots, grab a coat and come along with myself and Lucy for a stroll if you’re so minded, that is if you can stand the stench of the odourfull bog monster!


My walking lately has been lacking in distance and any real sort of gradient, although it has taken me through some soulful and enchanting woodland. So it’s time to stretch those leg muscles and get the heart pumping a tad harder me thinks, it’s time we headed back to the hills. We start off early morning and as we load ourselves into the Fun Cruiser the cold, frost laden, air can be felt deep in our chests as we draw each breath. Lucy seems to feel the new sense of purpose, there’s no dawdling to sniff out who’s crossed her front garden in the night, no it’s straight into the back of the car with a shiver of anticipation coursing through her muscles. The journey to the lower car park at Moel Famau is swiftly over, no music this time, just the hum of the tyres on the road. We disembark; taking a moment to let the cold air wash over us, the crisp smell of this cold autumnal morning is something that I cannot describe with justice, just that it says that we’re back where we belong. The low autumn sun has not long risen and it won’t find the slopes on which a lot of our path is to take us at any part of the day at this time of year with its lowly trajectory.


We set off at a good pace, a little too good I’m to find out later on, and the gradient away from the car park is enough for us to forget about the chill air as our muscles warm to their task. Half way up the slope Lucy hesitates, looking back at me foe support. Sure enough there, in the gloomy distance, is something smack bang in the middle of the path. I call Lucy to my side as we ease our pace, trying to make out in the low light what’s there ahead. Without warning a bird launchers itself off the trail towards the canopy of the now bare larch branches, a raptor! Knowing my camera’s limitations (and my lack of skills) we’re still too far for a picture and I’m still puzzled as to what type of raptor it is. As we near its position it heads off up trail once more and alights again upon the path, tis strange goings on indeed. It’s smaller than a sparrow hawk and its behaviour is puzzling us. We slow the pace further still becoming more aware of where we are placing our foot steps, a gentle hand on Lucy’s neck keeping her alongside of me. Again it lifts itself, this time landing upon a power cable support. This time we’re close enough to see what has so far eluded our attempts at identification, a kestrel! A rare sight indeed up here, only the second one that I can ever recall seeing on these trails, it seems that this is a good omen for the walk ahead. Again he heads through the larches canopy, allowing us just one more distant picture before he slides off beyond our vision.



We pick up the pace once more, Lucy springing along, happy to be given her head once more. As we crest the first of the hill’s shoulders the path darkens, the sunlight only glimpsed through the occasional gap in the dark, looming pines that now dominate the trail. The crunch of frozen surface water under our feet is like a quiet gunshot going off in this crisp air. The only other noise is shrill cries of warning from flitting mobs of Blue Tit-Marshes as they urge us to move on, move on through their patch of hillside. But even here, in the gloom of these tall trees there are splashes of beauty and wonder to behold even if only on the smallest of scale.





Lucy is now in full flow, her bursts of energy belying her age as she blasts back and forth within the run off ditches along side the trail. I reach for the camera to capture her madness when an almighty racket stops us within our tracks; Lucy’s only gone and flushed a cock pheasant from the undergrowth. His alarms cries shatter the stillness of the morning as he heads at full pelt through the pines down the valley side with Lucy doing her best to give chase through the tangled undergrowth, her hind quarters overtaking her front in her excitement. Camera forgotten, I stand there, grinning like a fool, as she clambers back up through the mass of dying ferns and deadwood, a more than sheepish look upon her face. We walk for while longer on these darkened pathways, our pace not yet slacking with only the odd break in the tree line opening out to reveal some stunning views on these few miles covered.



As we turn westward the trees begin to give way to a barren landscape where the remains of once mighty trees now stand witness to our passing like so many bleached bones from ancient battles. As the vista opens out even further to our eyes the felling comes over me as we pause to drink in the views that we are nothing more than fleeting shadows upon this ageless world and that when we’re finally gone it’ll heal itself as if we’d never been.




The trail starts to even off now, the hills and slopes around use tempting us like sirens seeking to bring sailors of old to their grief. I’m tempted to turn towards them in my heart but head wins the day. I know that I’m not yet ready to climb the slopes yet, so with a slightly heavy heart I turn to follow our planned route dreaming of walks to come.



The sun on this expose ridge, our pace and to be honest my lack of preparedness is combining and are beginning to take their toll upon me. I thought that in the cool of the dawn that I’d little in the way of gear and provision, a basic mistake! I should have kitted up with more care and foresight for now I’m becoming overheated and my muscles are starting to feel the strain. Fortunately I had done one thing right, and that was to consider bail out routes if required. But if I’m honest I was thinking of Lucy and had not considered them necessary for myself. If fact Lucy was doing more than ok, she’d remembered water stops that she hadn’t seen for over twelve months and watching her cavort through them all thoughts of her age were dispelled.


Another mile and we come to the bail out path, swiftly heading downhill on a steep gradient it would soon bring us back into the shade and cool air that I need.


Once descended the path again became dark and where the sun would fail to reach here, leaving frozen surface water and frosted leaves crunching under our footsteps once more. My eyes are drawn to a frozen track meandering across our path, I wonder if any of you good readers would care to have a stab at identifying the culprit of this finger wide track shown in the bottom of these three photos, perhaps a small prize would be in order?




We draw ever nearer to the car park, my over heated body now back in kilter, my lesson learnt. the next time I'll be far better prepared, with my walking kit in order, perhaps a post about what I'm (should be) carrying would be order? As we approach the car Lucy hangs back, reluctant to leave the hills. I crouch down to her, rubbing her ears roughly. “We will be back soon my girl” I whisper to her, very soon……


I hope that you enjoyed our foreshortened stroll, maybe next time we'll get that bit further. Oh and that mail to Casey? done and dusted.

Best regards, your friend,

John

14 comments:

Keith said...

Nicely done boyo. It took me back to my ramblings in south Cymru (Wales). And I like your new header image, that took me back too. I rarely see the coast here these days, and it is just not the same anyway.
Thank you.
Keith.
http:woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com

Mark Kautz said...

I'm worn out just reading about your travel. You're in better shape than I am. Thanks for the tour. The scenery was great. The bottom picture, looks like a slug trail that's frozen. My best guess.

Mark

Gorges Smythe said...

Enjoyable reading. And who could deny any reasonable pleasure to a pair of like Lucy's?

John Going Gently said...

I absolutely LOVED that final photo
it almost moved me to tears

Nearly there Claire said...

Oh John, that's brill! Hard to imagine that it's here and not in the American plains, of deserts...I love it!
You see, it's good for the soul and you even managed to find some toadstools for me. x

CDGardens said...

A great day off exploring at Moel Famau. The pictures are very nice!

Karl said...

Great post and thanks for taking us on your walk. The landscape looks awesome over there.

You did a great job snapping the krestel...and I love the shot of the misty gloom through the forest. My favorite, though, is Lucy splashing through the water.

I think it's great you noticed the tree stumps, as I notice these types of historical landmarks all the time. Stumps, stonewalls, barbed wire...you have to imagine who was there before you that cut that tree down or built that wall...and has the landscape changed any since???

Again, thanks for taking us along.
Karl

moschops said...

Thank you - that is just what I needed after the day I have had!

megan x

murphyfish said...

Hi Keith,
Cheers my good fellow, the new header is from Newbourgh sands, Anglesey. I just love the sea and always end up being drawn back to her. What I noticed when ‘down under’ (7 years ago now!) was the rise and fall of the tides was very small when compared to those here, whether this has a bearing upon the shape and feel of the coast might be one reason as to why the feelings of your towards your coast are there?

Well done Mark,
Slug it is (and the slug was frozen solid too), glad that you enjoyed the post my man.

Mr. Smythe,
Mmmm Lucy does have a way of getting what Lucy wants….

John G.
It’s her smell that has the same affect on me ;-)

Hi Claire,
I’m more than happy to oblige me dear, although it was your post that gave me the inspiration for this one.

CD,
Thank you for your kind words.

Karl,
It’s always good to find sign of lives long past and to ponder upon what’s gone before. Glad that you enjoyed the post.

Hi Megan,
Glad that I could help me dear.


To all,
As always thank you for your kind words, always heart warming.

Your friend,
John

spotted face said...

Another great walk you've taken us upon, John! And we are not getting tired of them. You're digging in the dagger though about getting Trapper out on the trails (he's on a weight loss program, too). I'll have to get the 'ol boy out this weekend.

Thanks for the mail, and I am drafting a reply. Talk to you soon -

Happy trails!

Casey

Karen Thomason/Gordon Setter Crossing said...

Hi John, As always, I too enjoyed your pics. I like the shadows pic. The last one of Lucy is very sweet. Nice close up!

murphyfish said...

Hey Casey,
You know that you won't regret taking Trapper on the trails my friend, our dogs help us see the outdoors in a different way to when we're alone.
Look forward to your mail.

Hi Karen,
Now the shadows picture is my favourite for some time, don't know why. Glad you enjoyed the rambling me dear.

Anonymous said...

I'm so late to the party over here it's not even funny. Please excuse my tardiness though, I've been in the woods.

This was a great post with wonderful pictures. I always love the shots of Lucy (she could have her own blog ya know) and these ones were some of the best yet!

Great work as always John!

murphyfish said...

Ah Kari, the only gal I know who can get away with, "sorry I'm late, I was in the woods" without me raising an eyebrow!
Glad that you enjoyed the post me dear, mind you, if Lucy wrote her own blog what on earth could I do with mine?