New Valley Hills

Travels mainly on foot.

Day 2 Tuesday 20th June 2023

Woken by the sounds and sights of fighter jets taking off from RAF Fairford. Too sleepy to snap a video or pic.

First of many swans. Walking in June meant cygnets are common.
Urgh, the first of many tarmac surfaces. This one to avoid knee deep flooded path while boring it avoided me a soaking.
Sound of cuckoos. Turn the sound up.
Among verdant greenery a useful sign. The trail organisers do a good job of signposting diversions.
A welcome sign – the path now avoids a busy, fast highway, and now continues along the river bank.

Today was full of dragonflies. I’m used to seeing green ones over our garden pond, though not the variety I saw here.

The sound of cuckoos was cmmon refrain along the path for several days – a real treat.

Unexpected peril number two.
At other end of the airfield is a boat. So someone flies in then chugs along to their home?
Attentive parent. Lot’s of mouths to feed.
Geese galore as well.
Meandering towards
a church. Still consecrated, though you’d not think so seeing the overgrown churchyard.
From here down its officially navigable. Note of the left side building extensions are sinking away down the riverbank.

Surprsingly few people walking this stretch – less than a handful. Bumped into a couple from Motueka New Zealand walking source to Oxford, then travlling round UK and Ireland on a tour of walking. We reminisced about Motueka where I’d lived and worked as a farmhand in the early 90s.

Oh dear, this ancient bridge is looking poorly. Is it being knocked down?
No. This happened at 2am according to the bank-side publican who was furious at the delays to reopen the road to vehicle traffic as he was missing trade. A drunk driver? Note the weeping willow – loads of these lovely trees for days and days.
Swans and their riverside meadows.
First lock – St John’s.
Lovely weathered finger signs.
Buscott Lock family just been fed by lock keeper.
Daily laundry routine to keep the stink and dirt at bay.
WWII pillbox turned into campsite shop. I found a secret socket I could recharge my phone at.
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Patrick

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An English walker who sleeps better outdoors.

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