A Walk From Bicester

On the Friday we went for a walk from Karen's parents house. The dogs were soon off their leads & happily running around the fields. We walk across this ploughed field, where the farmer has flattened down the footpath There are loads of Blackberries here so we set about picking some (which for us turned into Apple & Blackberry filo parcels with ice cream - yummy) Like the west coast line the railways runs very straight here. Just across the M40 is this water tower

Todays lunch spot is The Trigger Pond in Bucknell where Andy sees if his "Aunt Sally" skills are still there

Another lovely lunch

And as there is no driving Karen has a pint too

Then we set off back over the fields

This friendly horse decides to follow us

A Walk From Fringford

Last week when we were back in Oxfordshire we went for a walk from Fringford. The dogs go straight into the river (Little Ouse).

We are walking again through the fields.

We come across this large Oak which has lost rather a large branch

And then finish off with a lovely lunch at The Butchers Arms

Brill Hill & Puddles

Last Wednesday we met up with Karens school friend Trina & her family who are over from Australia visiting the UK. We met up at Brill Hill, at 184m it is one of the highest points in the area & home to a windmill. Looking west at the flat Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire landscape The first bit of the walk was a steep descent from the windmill Kamran & Talia playing with the dogs on the common Then Kamran finds a tyre swing

Talia has a play too whilst Arun looks on from Kirans backpack

A potted history of Brill

Talia poses for the camera

Back at the start

The Kumars: (l-r) Kamran, Talia, Trina, Kiran & Arun

We then set off on a circular walk marked from here & Talia finds her first puddles

Looking back up at the windmill

Arun has been enjoying blackberries on the way round, you'd never guess!

Across a field

There are red kites here

Talia spots some more puddles

And if the stills weren't enough here are two videos:

Then time for lunch

We had a lovely time with them all & it was the first time we had met Talia & Arun face to face as opposed to over the webcam. We saw Trina & Kiran again for dinner on the Thursday & hope they enjoy the rest of their time in the UK.

A Walk Across Port Meadow

Last week was spent visiting family & friends in Oxford & we managed to fit quite a few walks in too. On Tuesday we were visiting Andy's mum & took the dogs for a walk over Port Meadow We took the dog ball thrower as Port Meadow is ideally suited for it as it is large & flat. We didn't walk that far but the dogs ran miles!

Boats on The Thames

And two dogs in The Thames

The Thames path which in total runs 184miles

As we wander back, Karen throwing the ball for the dogs

Stanley Ghyll Footbridge Surveys

Today we travelled over to Eskdale to do our 6monthly footbridge surveys in Stanley Ghyll. It was a beautiful crisp autumn day, the sun shining through the trees here

When we were here last we reported this damage to the handrail on the 1st bridge

And today it had been fixed

A precariously balanced tree high up

Plenty of water on the falls today

If you look to the left of the picture you will see the helmets of a group exploring higher up the falls than we want to

One more survey in Bootle which is due in October & that is our footbridges completed for 2011

A Cruise To Celebrate The National Park's 60th Birthday

Last night we were invited along with the other volunteers & staff to a attend a cruise to celebrate The Lake District National Park's 60th birthday. We met up at Brockhole which as the crow flies is 25miles from home, but in reality it is 45mile drive that took 1hour 15mins. Since we last visited Brockhole a new pier has been built & "Swan" was waiting there for us There had been a little rain on the journey over, but it was dry now & the clouds we off the tops, looking towards the Langdale Pikes

Looking back at the new pier

Looking out of the window the sun is trying to shine, but the clouds look worse

We first cruise towards Ambleside where the boat then turns and heads back towards Brockhole

The Langdale Chase Hotel

Our first rays of sun on Ill Bell

And High Street comes into view

And we go past Bowness-On-Windermere

And the car ferry

The sun is winning as it catches the windows on this house

Looking back down the lake

There is actually now more blue sky in places than cloud

We have reached as far as we are cruising and the boat starts to turn back

From the wake you can see this has quite a large turning circle

Looking south to the rest of the lake

Now we are treated to a beautiful array of colours from the setting sun

A folly nestled in the trees (Claife Station)

When we return to Brockhole the clouds are quite moody over The Pikes

And a panorama of them

It was a lovely cruise & a great buffet - Thanks