Momentarily stumped….

Looking back on this post in years to come I’ll maybe struggle to recall why I was ‘momentarily stumped’ – then remember, and reflect on how Covid19 was such an over-riding concern for all of us.

And looking back on my previous post – it’s hard to recollect the upbeat joyousness of my plans for the summer! Just to quickly run through them….

Run 5k – hah! Even 6k – double hah!! My body said no – specifically my KNEES said no. Ankle (once broken) was fine and uncomplaining, but as a result of the pain in my knees I decided to settle for a future without running. Move on.

Walk the Ver from south to north – as with so many events, this one is postponed til 2021.

I am Green Challenge-less! I am Project-less! For the next weeks and months I’ll get through lockdown and whatever the virus flings at us as best I can, like all of us.

But as this blog is all about Green Challenges and not about Covid19 Challenges, for the minute I’m signing off…but…. I’ll be back 🙂

In case you’re missing the photos of me with my picnic…here’s me with a hummus and coleslaw sandwich yesterday….

And here’s photos of my two little cuties, sent to me this morning….

 

Celebration of Walking 4

The last Celebration of Walking! I have walked the length of the River Ver! In 4 sections, so not such a great CHALLENGE as it’s not the longest of rivers, but more of a CELEBRATION – of being able to walk again after breaking my ankle, and of the natural world, rivers in particular, and our own little chalk stream in this neck of the woods, West Hertfordshire.  Also, most importantly, a  celebration of the pleasure to be found discovering places without using a car – by foot, bike or public transport.

For my next little walking project, I am wondering about walking the whole route again – but the other way ie south to north, with the sun at my back, from the end to the source, AND, to make it more of a challenge, doing it all in one go. What a delightful way to spend a long Spring day. Shall start the research!

I have also decided to have a go at proving that I have regained the power to run – I can’t bear the idea that I have lost the ability to…. run for a bus, run across a road, run to help someone in peril, run to put out a fire, run back indoors when I’ve forgotten my keys…..so I’ve downloaded the Couch to 5k app and am aiming to use it to train myself up over 9 weeks to run in the Redbourn Fun Run on May 3rd – hopefully I’ll get good enough to enter the 5k distance. I’m on my second week of training, so I’ve made a start. I have actually run a 5k before – when I was 55, so what I would REALLY like to do, now I’m 66, is run 6k. Well, it makes sense, doesn’t it? Haha.

Back to the walking.

Today was the by far the sunniest day I’ve had for this challenge. I caught the 34 bus to St Albans and walked down Cottonmill Lane to rejoin the Ver. Here’s my route:

For more info and photos –  https://www.strava.com/activities/3147757051

The river was looking beautiful and flowing really strongly after all the rain we’ve had recently:

Walking through Sopwell Nunnery Green Space was a soggy business – the river had burst its banks in several places:

I found myself lingering in this area – it was quite beautiful – in the grounds of Sopwell Nunnery and the little Local Nature Reserve:

I was reminded how successful urban wildlife areas could become. I sat on a very handy, wonderfully dry, bench provided by the Ver Valley Society and had my elevenses. Along this stretch I heard and saw a good variety and number of birds – brought out by the sunshine no doubt, but the most I’d seen so far along the river.

A long stretch of the river passes through extensive water meadows – I was enjoying myself through this section so much I deviated from the path and found myself cut off by flood water. I was tempted to take off my boots and paddle but in the end I retraced my footsteps. It was extremely soggy….

….and muddy….

But after the mud came the beauty:

I was getting close to the finishing point, the confluence with the Colne:

Still one major barrier though….the M25…..

After a bit more walking the noise from the motorway had died down a bit so I sat and ate my chicken and cucumber on sour dough rye bread sandwiches by a peaceful stretch of the river and felt a bit sad that soon it would all be over.

But the end, at the meeting of the two rivers was so spectacular! Both rushing along, both bursting their banks, flooding the whole area. This is the actual meeting point – the Ver is coming in behind the massive fallen tree to meet the Colne:

After the confluence there was such a huge swell of water – it was really exciting to see.

I was actually a bit worried about falling in and getting swept away….

It will be so interesting to go back in a few months’ time and see it in a different mood…

Going home time – I made my way to Bricket Wood station and caught a train back on the tiny line that goes into St Albans Abbey station. The ticket machines weren’t working and nobody was around to sell me a ticket so….I didn’t buy one!

After catching the 34 bus back home it was the end of my journey, the end of my Celebration of Walking.

Today I walked about 8 miles, and the map on my wall is complete:

I came a cropper with my bird-watching app and lost all my records so no list this time 😦

For more information about the Green Challenges:                          https://sue6665.wordpress.com/about