No longer restricted to an hour for our daily excursion
the KHT and I get slightly more adventerous in our explorations.
Where will we end up?
Who knows!
We set off.
After turning a corner, spy a family we know, undertaking a grand garden clearance project.
They offer me a bundle of mangled vintage chain link fencing, coated in bright green plastic.
Very 1980's...
How could I resist such an offer?
Surely the fencing would come in useful on the allotment?
Explorers travel light, so I had to decline the generous gift.
We admire their stirling efforts and continue on our way.
Past the suppermarket (open)
and pub (closed).
We get diverted by a spinney
before re-emerging into the housing estate.
adjacent to the meeting rooms (closed)
and takeaway (closed until it is opening time).
heading for the ridge and the view from the footbridge.
We continue to ascend the hill .
Suddenly we are on the ridge - just not quite where we anticipated -
adjacent to the trophey shop (closed)
Salvation Army Charity Shop (closed)
and funeral directors (looks closed, but probably open if required).
Past the florist (closed)
various hair and beauty establishments (closed)
small coffee shop (closed)and Post office (closed, but open again on Monday).
We turn cross the road and the KHT's face lights up
"Look down there, you will see something very special!" she announces joyfully.
I look at my phone.
I can see something special - a Pokestop,
but that its not what she has in mind
"It's the Malverns!" she announces, with a deep sigh of satisfaction.
The KHT loves to spot this familiar outline,
particularly when returning up the M5.
When she spots those familiar blue hills
she knows that she is nearly home!
We walk continue down the hill,
admiring the well cared for Parish church (closed).
"Shall I get Dad to collect us from Droitwich?" I enquire...
At the bottom of the hill we turn,back up towards the roundabout,
passing a row of shops.
The 'corner shop' (open) is a hive activity,
with people waiting outside to enter the premises
Further up the hill we encounter the Methodist church (closed).
However it has a community garden (open),
so we wander around.
The KHT is worried in case we are trespassing,
but I reassure her that this section of the church grounds are open to the public.
I show her the fruit trees.
"It is a garden for the community,
a bit like the orchard between Greenlands and Woodrow".
The KHT is very impressed and admires the much mulched landscaping.
"Ruth must be very proud of this." she announces.
I am sure that Ruth and her congregation are very pleased with what they have achieved together.
We negotiate the roundabout,
fortunately the traffic is still a lot lighter than usual.
We stand on the footbridge,
admiring the view across to Warwickshire
before heading homewards.
A lady on a 'Rascal' mobility scooter,
is exercising her canine rascal
throwing a small section of branch for it to retreive.
"One more!" she announces.
The dog changes down the bank in joyful anticipation
The piece of wood sails past the ears of the dog
"Don't hit the dog..." I joke.
"It wouldn't be the first time!" she assures me.
We moved on before we too get clobbered!
We passed wonderfully twisted oaks
that stretched up towards the heavens.
I pondered briefly if Enid Blyton was inspired by an oak when she wrote her much-loved Faraway Tree series.
You could imagine a whole community living in such a mighty tree.
Later we pass another oak which looks dead.
I wonder what happened
to extinguish all signs of life from this particular tree.
Not so much 'Faraway' as 'too far gone'!
As my eyes passed across the wooded landscape, it can be sometimes difficult to remember that we are in the middle of a town. We owe much to those who had the vision to planted so many trees, thus enhancing the existing woodland.
I wonder where our next expedition will take us?
No comments:
Post a Comment