A walk filled with many surprises.? ? ?
By wildrose
13 comments
No photographs I’m afraid.
I would like to share with you the very special things that I saw on a walk today.
We went along the Tarka Trail which follows an old railway line next to the River Torridge in Devon. We started off at the ‘Puffing Billy’ cafe in Torrington, with a hot cup of coffee and a slice of marmalade and ginger cake.
HERON
The walk is an easy one, all very flat and even. The sun was shining from a deep blue sky but frost still lay in the shaded places. We walked through woodland before coming to a weir in full flow. Here we saw a heron in the shallows.
OTTER
A little further on my husband thought he saw a fish jumping in the water. We stood still and kept watching and when the movement happened again, we both realised that it was an otter. It was a wonderful moment for me as it was the first time that I have seen an otter in the wild. We watched it swimming to and fro and then it climbed up on to the opposite bank.
LAMBS
We continued on our walk and in one of the fields were a flock of ewes and their lambs. Another lovely thing to see. The lambs looked as if they were a few weeks old. I am sure they were enjoying the warm sunshine on their backs.
LOST GLOVE
On our walk a lady asked us to look out for a glove that she had dropped. We found it on our way back and handed it in at the cafe – I was so glad when I spotted it lying in the leaves next to the path.
SNOWDROPS
We then drove to Rosemoor Gardens where many snowdrops were in flower and some delicate scents filled the air, mainly Sarcococca and Viburnum
PEACOCK etc
Hard to believe but as we headed home a peacock went across the lane, right in front of us! A little further on a flock of sheep had escaped from their field and were blocking the road and last of all a little dog was chasing a fox cub next to a hedge!!
It was a wonderful day for spotting wild life and will stay in my memory as being really special.
Probably, when we repeat this walk next week, we shall be lucky to see just one of the above!!!
We shall make sure we have the camera with us, just in case!
23 Jan, 2017
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Comments
I too enjoyed your walk, you were lucky to have such good weather, and to see so much wildlife, we stayed indoors as it was horrible, so cold and foggy, good to hear you're having some decent weather!
23 Jan, 2017
Glad you enjoyed your walk, Chris, and well done on finding the glove.
24 Jan, 2017
It didn't matter at all that you didn't have a camera - Have really enjoyed reading about your walk! Thanks for sharing ;o)
24 Jan, 2017
What an exciting walk Chris thank you for sharing it with us ,so much of interest to see on your route, I would love to see an Otter I'm pleased you were there at the right time to have that experience ..just the kind of walk I enjoy :o))
24 Jan, 2017
What a wonderful walk enjoyed sharing it with you
24 Jan, 2017
Well, that was wonderful Chris, no need for photos as your descriptions were so good!
Michael and I searched our memories to recall a lovely pub lunch at The Braunton Inn, Barnstaple many years ago ... wonder if you know of it? One evening during that holiday, we had been to a theatre and on the drive back through the narrow country lanes found half a dozen cows walking down the road!
24 Jan, 2017
What an amazing walk to see so much wildlife Chris - thank you for the vivid descriptions. I've never seen an otter either . . Devon is obviously the place to be!
24 Jan, 2017
Lovely to see your comments, thanks for reading my diary of Monday.
Today was less interesting, getting ideas to improve our bathroom - a stale mate has been reached!!!
24 Jan, 2017
I just sat hear going Oh Wow! How marvellous to see just one of those , let alone all of them, especially the otter. Thank you for sharing your lovely walk.
24 Jan, 2017
I have traveled to many places and taken many photos.My one regret is that I should have written about what I have experienced in my travels in a daily diary. So many of my personal experiences and thoughts have been lost. Come to think of it, I should have done the same thing with my garden. The photos help me recollect some things but with the written word, I could have actually relived these past experiences. Thank You for this blog.
26 Jan, 2017
Stera, it was one of those days when everything worked out just right which made it even more special because I wasn't expecting any of it, just a bit of exercise in a pretty place with a cup of coffee attached!
Loosestrife, you put into words exactly how I feel. The reason I put together this blog was a way of recording it all because I know I will forget! Maybe it was a good thing that we didn't have the camera.
26 Jan, 2017
I don't think you will ever forget the otter though.
26 Jan, 2017
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I have so enjoyed reading this,Chris,and felt I was walking and sharing it with you..those memories will stay with you forever,I'm sure..Let's hope you can repeat the experience ,when you have your camera with you :o) x
23 Jan, 2017