A Walk in the Country

 Inspiration can come from many places and sometimes where you may not expect such as comics where a few did try to do for them what the popular "Why Don't You..." television series on the BBC did and use their medium to encourage children to put down what they were doing and do something like go outside instead.

The girls comic Tammy did a fair bit about being fit and going out exploring the countryside  not just in the regular comics but also in their annuals.

Here from an page in the 1970's they are looking at the things you need on and with you and the things you might do along the way like identify trees, flowers, birds and so on which isn't a million miles removed from what you'd do in Scouts and Girl Guiding but with the advantage anyone anywhere can just do it where there can be waiting lists and in a few places the lack of age appropriate unit for you.

We're out

Weather has been a bit better in the last week so much has come out not least with wild flowers that have been well alone from the over use of lawnmowers which means it's of more use to wildlife than smooth expanses of grass.

While it looked as fresh horses had arrived not far away, the cowslips were out as I had my insect repellant on given it's prime tic season and them and me certainly don't mix.

It was good however to be out for a good couple of hours enjoying the countryside,

 

Leaf identication

 Knowing what species a tree is by the leaf isn't just fascinating but can help to keep you safe while you're exploring on foot.

Restful winter

 After the snow of the last few days and much rainfall, we return to the other side of winter while out here.

Moored up while its occupants are getting provisions here as there is only one place three miles south that has that with a day or so of travelling and enjoying a walk in the fresh air, this barge (aka a narrow boat) is traditionally decorated while the reflections in the water are idyllic.

Looking to its right, beyond the tow path is a steep drop in land level, the direct result of subsidence from mining which is endemic here.

Looking up

Long grass is something I have to be a bit careful over given my reactions to things like tic bites and the like so I use roll on repellants a lot and try to have some distance between me and anything potentially as much as I love that ground up view. 

Taking a rest

As you can see the tree remains stark, devoid of any foilage while the subsidence issues mean it is appreciably higher than the foreground.

It is difficult to comprehend this area was very much a commercial area up to the 1930's with the premises now underground complete with a number of residential properties.

Rule breaking as I am a bit want to do when it comes to photography here's another "against the light" shot that shows the daffodils planted in this joint walking and cycling way where there are carefully placed seats for taking a rest and enjoying the relative tranquility

Summit

A proud group of scouts have made their way up the mountain, tired no doubt for all the physical effort required to have made it this far.

They stand and sit looking out at the beautiful scene they have by their own efforts have got themselves to enjoying it.

They can indeed stand tall holding their heads up high for they have shown the true spirit of Scouting.

Settled

We're in a drier period while the temperatures have been moderate with cold starts soon getting around the eight to ten degrees mark by late morning which lent itself for going into the fields.

While out I spotted this distanced group of cows sunbathing, spending a fair bit of time just watching them, very much 'in the moment' feeling carefree.

To me a benefit of being out is while you do take some precautions, it is to literally leave everything else including those things that you may find troubling behind.

Exploring the countryside

Given the time line of this blog obviously some explorations and hiking is missed out so today I thought I'd share one from Spring 2018 around the time I joined ASB and Tumblr that were to play big part in my recovery.

One thing we are not short of across this district is access to open fields and the countryside even from the more built up area of the city region and even from the smaller urban villages you may not have far to walk before you leave the brick faced uniformity for open countryside such as this.

Here the lambs get on with grazing in a field with a traditional late eighteenth century farm house present although it has been subject to alterations over the years before more control about such work was instituted.

In the background you can the ridges of Congleton Edge that form the boundary between Cheshire and Staffordshire although as anyone around here will tell you Biddulph, Leek and Congleton have far more in common with each other than the natural centres of their respective regions such as Birmingham and Manchester.

Really they all fall geographically within the North/North-west Midlands.

Progress along the way

After last weeks entries looking at the skills learned and achievements of young people we continue on with my life, the 'and me' bit of this blog and my explorations as we make our way out of this month and into August.

We pick up with the wild flowers growing with even more on the other side of this path through the field that were much appreciated by the bees which mainly of the Bumble Bee variety.

More delightful flowers that resulted in many butterflies, mainly white cabbage ones and a few red admirals dancing around me as I went along the path avoiding muddy bits where it had rained before and where I needed to apply the breaks as I started to lose my footing in the mud.

On a better day you have a clearer view to the farm buildings in the distance and behind them lies one of England's busiest stretches of Motorway, that just underscores how vital a place of tranquility such places are.

I chatted briefly to the nursery works on that day and one after where to go on another walk I needed to cross their nursery as the access goes through it, freely accepted and accepting of what they help maintain as the harvesting continued.

Restful views along the way

There is a reason for the "and me" bit of the title of this blog and why it is different to blogs of a similar nature on Blogger, Wordpress and Tumblr and today's post is a good example of it.

I undertake explorations observing and noting my surroundings on foot, what is new, seasonal changes, the wildlife putting into practice many of the things you learn in scouting, for me being that "Wolf Cub in Spirit".

Last week was no different, going out with my red waterproof jacket, green top and grey worsted shorts on exploring the fields, being mindful not to get stuck in the mud as it was a bit muddy in places as it had rained hard overnight and was drizzling while out.

This was a scene I encountered along a path before I got to the next field with the cows resting together in a different spot than a few days before.

If we'd of had bright sun, it would of been idyllic.

This blog like most of mine has always had a past into present looking at past scouting, scouting as it plays a role in my present and issues around modern scouting rather than a purely nostalgic feel. 

Hiking

Out enjoying a days hiking through the woodland is something I love to do which is one great thing about this area as one doesn't have to go by car or bus to get out of the built up bit which is what I did this crisp autumnal morning in my shorts and long socks. 

On top of the world

This is something you'd never see me do simply because my co-ordination is that poor I couldn't stand still on that marker without feeling dizzy but he clearly feels he's on top of the world there.

He clearly has a most remarkable view from that vantage point of his surroundings with open countryside all around him.

For some children and young adults Scouting may be one of only a few opportunities for them to enjoy the countryside.