It was nice to return to the day job yesterday after the long lay off.It doesn't seem a year since I finished the Wales Coast Pat with the memories of it still fresh in my mind. The lockdown put my plans for a May return on the backburner, delaying until now a return to my retirement project of walking the coast of Great Britain.
Yesterday's 15-mile return on the flat sea coast of the Wirral Peninsula was light enough that we finished the walk, long enough that we were pretty tired at the end. To be honest, we were gubbed. Our 'training' until now has been fairly leisurely ten-mile strolls up the glen. The added five miles was, for now,to tax us. However,we know we will quickly become 'walked in', however painful tomorrow's walk may be.
The walk itself was much prettier than we expected. In places where there were wide, expansive views it bordered on the majestic. Walking on cycle track for much of the first half we were surprised by the variety and profusion of the wild flowers in the verges. Later, the expanse of the saltmarsh on the banks of the River Dee was a spectacle. Walking through six-foot high reed beds we encountered a number of muddy patches that required careful negotiation on a very narrow path liked with nettles. We enjoyed the long beach walk that formed the latter part of the day, beautiful views across saltmarsh and river to the distant hills of the Flintshire coast and out and across the expansive sandbanks of the River estuary.
Tired as we are there is still enough excitement at being back on the trail that we have no qualms about what tomorrow will bring.
Yesterday's 15-mile return on the flat sea coast of the Wirral Peninsula was light enough that we finished the walk, long enough that we were pretty tired at the end. To be honest, we were gubbed. Our 'training' until now has been fairly leisurely ten-mile strolls up the glen. The added five miles was, for now,to tax us. However,we know we will quickly become 'walked in', however painful tomorrow's walk may be.
The walk itself was much prettier than we expected. In places where there were wide, expansive views it bordered on the majestic. Walking on cycle track for much of the first half we were surprised by the variety and profusion of the wild flowers in the verges. Later, the expanse of the saltmarsh on the banks of the River Dee was a spectacle. Walking through six-foot high reed beds we encountered a number of muddy patches that required careful negotiation on a very narrow path liked with nettles. We enjoyed the long beach walk that formed the latter part of the day, beautiful views across saltmarsh and river to the distant hills of the Flintshire coast and out and across the expansive sandbanks of the River estuary.
Tired as we are there is still enough excitement at being back on the trail that we have no qualms about what tomorrow will bring.