We have a new country tuning in – it’s been a while!! Welcome Barbados…

It’s so nice when this happens. I don’t know how people find the blog but it does go out on quite a few platforms and stuff. It’s quite weird when random local people come up to me like they know me and start chatting. It’s nice, but I probably need to work out a way of politely asking who these people are, rather than having a rabbit-in-the-headlights look about me…

Anyway, 129 countries have tuned in, to date. I have my eye on Svalbard. I’ve left loads of comments on blogs and left our blog link, over the last year or so, but no nibbles yet. It took me months to get Greenland, Iceland and other northern countries. People just don’t seem to engage in blog “small talk” the further north I go on my virtual travels…

Today we widened the path and created scallops south of the underpass, bringing in majestic trees where we can.

It was a very misty and cold start. Here is the view across the heath.

The sun eventually chased away the fog, so we could see the view. We also started stripping off our outer layers as it warmed up.

It was useful to see where the sunshine was hitting the scallops. It doesn’t feel like it, but the path is starting to turn to the east so we get more sun on the southern side.

We’re gonna be so full of nectar-rich wildflowers next summer.

We had a break at the halfway point and had another go at the bacon from the butchers in Bilton Village.

Six of us feasted on bacon rolls and coffee. There’s still loads left so we’ll just keep going until it’s all gone. Please go to the butchers. You will not be disappointed.

This is the hedge that we laid last year. It’s coming on nicely.

It’s so good for wildlife, but I don’t think we’ll be winning any hedge-laying awards for it. There are certain styles for the various different parts of the country. Sussex Style, Cotswold Style, West Country Style. I think we will just call this Harty Style…

Our YouTube of the scallops just to give people a better idea of how it looks.

We’re happy because people can walk two or three abreast and actually have a conversation. In today’s world, this is so good.

Tool Talk Wednesday

Nathan did the honours this week with a spare battery for all of our gear.

I kid you not, you can never have enough batteries. Thank you, Nathan.

I also litter-picked just about the whole 2-mile length. 8,300 steps, so my watch thing was telling me.

It’s not the steps that get you, it’s carrying the bag of litter when it gets heavy.

An interesting development! I have been reliably informed that a foot/cycle bridge is going in where the spine road cuts across the path south of Potford Dam. This is great news and will keep us connected.

These connections are so important and just getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life really is a godsend.

The WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) are saying that 20 minutes a day on a path like ours will do so much for mental wellbeing.

Next one is on the Dunchurch Bridleway on Friday, and then back at the JLR bench next Wednesday for more bacon!

Until next time!

Paul