Spring has sprung…

The car took us to the start of our circular walk today. We arrived in Allendale market square in bright sunshine and were puzzled at the scarcity of parking space. What was the event? What were the crowd of runners doing here so early? We were informed it was the Allendale Challenge, 20 miles of rough terrain to run. Well good luck to them but we were not planning to emulate them! Dropping down from The Kings Head Hotel we skirted the East Allan river with the sun shimmering in the trees, casting ghostly shadows on those not yet in bud. Not ten minutes into the walk we encountered a stray runner with a Dublin brogue. He wanted to consult us about the route the runners went as he was late. With a hasty thanks for the information received, he sprinted on. Our pace was much slower as we negotiated the stile by the woods and ascended into the fields above. Two hours later and we were still reaching for the heavens. Veronica found herself slowing up much behind Eddie who was setting the pace. Our progress in the past few weeks had been better. However the heat of the day and the hard continual uphill route was a struggle, but good practice for the real thing in two weeks time. The sun block was also in evidence today.

One stray newborn lamb ‘baaed’ her way towards us frolicking along. Much as we would like to have cuddled it, we were aware that to approach would mean the mother would reject it, so at the speed of lightening we managed to cross the wooden bridge just in time.

Presently we heard the rush of cascading water and all too soon were within sight of the beautiful waterfall near Sinderhope. Traipsing along the perimeter of the fall we settled down to our picnic listening to the gurgling waters gather momentum. Butterflies brush passed us almost kissing our cheeks. What bliss!
With a fuller stomach, Veronica was able to regain Eddie’s pace, just about. Soon we were up on to the moors, that vast expanse of desert with its harsh undergrowth. The burn scrub land yielded its new growth. What a symbol for Easter!

On and on we traveled in a well defined path, which was at times narrow and uneven under foot. The heat mist hovering over the moor adding to the sense of the mystical. A solo biker passed us negotiating an unforgiving steep incline with marvelous ease.
Eventually we returned to Allendale by the far end town. Like every journey, as soon as we got to the edge of the town we expected to arrive at the starting point much sooner.

A welcome cafe awaited us and we did not refuse its offer of a nice big pot of tea.
Veronica & Eddie

This entry was posted on 15/04/2007 at 09:20 am and is filed under Progress report. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.