Appleton Reservoir and Grappenhall

Saturday 5 November 8.5 miles

Tracey, Jane, Donna, Hilary and Carol (all 5 of us!)

We had good weather, and the sun even came out, the rain of the previous days meant it was a bit muddy underfoot.

We started at the reservoir walking around it, we followed the path, there was a field with some donkeys in it, the looked well looked after. Then we walked passed the cemetery and some large, expensive houses.

We walked through woods even though we were in the town. The autumn colours were beautiful and the sun came out at times showing off the colours. We meandered through The Lumb Brook Valley, the Woodland Trust owns this woodland.

We joined the Bridgewater Canal and there were two benches so we sat and had some lunch. The ducks came by very quickly to see if there were any scraps to eat but they soon lost interest and went away. There was a man fishing and he managed to catch fish!

We passed under the London Road Bridge and just along the path there are some Victorian Houses across the road and they looked very well kept with some nice window details.

There were horses in the fields along from Red Lane.

The Hollies Concept Cafe in Lower Stretton was very busy but we did manage to find a table, and drink cups of tea and share some cake - Victoria sponge, carrot cake and Bakewell tart. We could not decide why it was called the 'Concept Cafe'?
Hi Ian I am glad to hear that someone is reading this blog!

Get Together

Friday 29 October 

Wedding Anniversary Meal

Donna and Martin's house. 20 years of marriage! Lots of lovely food as usual.  

Lots of chatting, e.g. the hen on the road to work.

Farndon and Churton

Saturday 1 October 6.5 miles
Jane, Hilary

Parked in Farndon at the picnic area by the River Dee.(Still in England). The weather was fine and bright, and I chose the walk as it hadn't been raining so I thought it would be fairly dry.

We passed a row of houses that had been burnt - waiting to be sorted - the fire had obviously spread from one cottage.

We walked down a track, a car passed us, and then we passed them again when the track got really muddy. Once we got further down the track there was no way through.

A walk along the River Dee - lots of little buildings, one couple were sitting on their deck, they had Liverpudlian accents, how great to leave the city and come to a shack by the river with views over the countryside.

We came to a large bend in the river it showed the path going across the field but as there were a lot of cows and a bull we decided to follow the edge of the river!


Cheshire Open Studios - we called in on a few artists, Anne-Marie Rickus, Jo Jenkins (in Chester) and Caroline Gregson (in Tarvin). Had a drink of elderflower juice at Jo Jenkins.