The early morning quite irresistible. Still and chilly with the sun just up. Fully expected there to be that covering of spiders`webs so typical of the season but no sign of them - in fact only had one morning so far like that. Instead there were sparkling grasses and clear horizons with air that demanded deep breaths and shoulders back.
There have been so many grey mornings it was a delight and the pictures say it all this time.
The most perfect day to be back in the woods after a lengthy hiatus (about which see below). Warm but with a light feathery breeze shaking the barley,
rustling the trees (ok - it did feel as if they were welcoming me back) and keeping the flies at bay.
We took it steady (knee damage being one of the reasons for the hiatus) which meant it was possible to really relish not only the delights of the place - flowers and grasses, rowan berries and wild raspberries, bees, butterflies and trees in full summer foliage - but also to pause and be properly appreciative of having this place on our doorstep.
with the usual views the reward on a lovely day.
And so the hiatus: a trip south, as south as possible without falling off the edge, to a gloriously sunny Cornwall and a family birthday. A week of truly exceptional weather, breathtaking vistas, sea swimming every day, not to mention the best of company, fine dining and drink! Then there were more family visits to be made during which gallivanting the knee `pinged` and slowed everything down, making, amongst other things, the title of this blog ring a little hollow.
Change of plans then, which had been to do a long distance walk. As the prescribed exercises for the knee were diligently executed (nearly) every day, an idea formed - to drive to the end of the walk which given the extremely hot weather proved to be a much better idea. Pics taken to prove we`d made it and then down to stay with daughters who had planned a surprise trip to the Isle of Cumbrae.- and here the pics say it all. 😄
May not have been walking-quite-fast but there were moments when we sped-quite-fast along the road, sometimes with canine assistance, mostly with very hard work from the peddlers. A memorable adventure. The knee is on the mend....the pics may take a little longer to sort through. Watch this space.
More of that ethereal shape-shifting mist which promises a warm day in prospect, the sun already well up, shining on the waning moon as they swapped places in the sky.
A noisy flock of crows swirling across the tree tops and hares scampering away from us set an energetic tone as did the cacophony of bird song in the woods which were looking particularly splendid, as if they finally dare believe that the Bard`s "rough winds" have passed for long enough to make it worthwhile unfurling.
The mist eddied round us, disappearing and reappearing but all the while thinning and dissipating as the sun shooed it away.
We took the extra mile round the other woods, known to us as Tim`s woods after the gentleman who used to look after them even though he left a while ago. Have to go round because whenever we go into them we get completely lost - which doesn`t necessarily matter but we`d been out long enough by now and coffee called.
Back by half seven, the last of the mist temporarily enveloping the house but it had been a morning walk to relish. Thing is - what to do with the rest of the day?!
After seemingly endless days of grey and tumultuous rain woke up to a perfect May morning, blue sky with the last of the mists quietly dissipating as the sun burnt through. On the top field we were above what cloud there was, one wind turbine apparently floating free in the distance. An errant lamb tried and failed to get out of our field and back into its own, scurrying up and down the fence. No doubt as soon as we moved on it was back munching the "grass on the other side" - always lusher and greener of course.
Yesterday morning we set off early, also in the mist, the cows at the top of the road smudged silhouettes
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For once more blue sky than grey early on, beautiful morning light as we set off just on six.
On the back field at twenty past five in the morning on a cloudy Mayday on Saturday: the sun may have been already up but it was lurking behind the cloud and the air was absolutely freezing. A far cry from two years ago:
http://walking-quite-fast.blogspot.com/2019/05/monday-1052019.html
However, through the wonders of technology, was able to connect with folk luminaries Martin Green, Eliza Carthy and Maddy Prior with dancing courtesy of Adie Baako and the wonderful Boss Morris:
"Twas a lovely if slightly strange coming together but my dancing obviously wasn`t vigorous enough as halfway through I had to get walking to warm up so we set off up the road at a smart pace, listening and watching the rest of the event as we went.
By the time we were in the woods the last Spring Carol was ringing out and we then continued this very early walk to the accompaniment of birdsong, the sun now well up
By the time we were round, the day had become a beautifully clear spring morning, the clouds mostly dispersed, so we took an extra mile round on paths less travelled,
which is always a good thing for a slightly different perspective on the landscape.
Talking of which, two days away down at Lochwinnoch last week provided different perspectives on everything - just a delight to be `on the road`, mixing with folk and taking walks through woods and by the side of lochs. Simple activities really, never to be taken for granted again. Not to forget the family breakfast BBQ on the way down more or less at the foot of the Campsie Fells. Simple pleasures indeed.
A perfect blue-sky-frosty-morning with promise of sun for most of the day...... on the back field early on the birds were in full throat and flitting about looking very busy.
Similarly yesterday, as we took an early walk round the woods, it sounded like there were birds on the tops of every other tree proclaiming that we were in for another beautiful Spring morning. There is something very special about the early walks - the light 
