Saturday is alright for walking!

Saturday started grey and wet with heavy clouds and sullen skies. 

I'd set off early to work leaving the boys asleep and Himself nursing a coffee. 

I must admit to feeling a little 'put out' as I'd somehow missed that I was working and only by a niggling need to find out who was on duty, discovered that it was me! 

All week I'd harboured a plan of spending the day on the hills - in glorious sunshine with my boys. Only to be informed by first - one son that he was off with the girlfriend, 

then the other, 

that he was off with the friends from school....

then realise I was at work......

and to cap it off - it was now raining.  

As I said, I felt a little put out.

Himself said, as I left home, 'text me later, if the weather is better I'll meet you for lunch' 

Looking at the sky I really doubted that offer.

As the day went on, the clouds loitered and menaced 

with only the rarest of glimpses of sky.

Gradually it became sultry and steamy

then humid and hot.

I texted Himself 'Cloudy but warm'

His reply - 'I'm on my way'

He arrived with Youngest, who's plans had fizzled, a picnic lunch, our 2CV called Gertie

 and as soon as I could, 

we escaped for a picnic up on the moorlands surrounded by grasses and wild flowers.

And blue sky!

Lunch eaten, we walked up through the fields where we were spotted by a Saler cow (pronounced Sa'lair),
who peered at us with a furrowed brow and quizzical look.
She slowly podded towards us,
keeping a keen eye on our every move.

 She was warily curious and certainly wanted to see what we were up to.

We said our goodbyes and continued up further into the dales, 

away from the manicured fields and into the kingdom of the thistle!

Rushes and foxgloves competed with moorland grasses for space 

giving thin grazing for the Belties. 

I was glad they were at the far side of the field. 

As 'cute and fluffy' as they look in their black and white coats - 

I have a healthy wary regard for their tempers.

 As we crested a hill, Youngest set off, running through a meadow across into the view. 

The combination of the big sky, the warm breeze, the skylarks singing 

as well as the humid sultry scented air 

made for a heady mix and I had to stop and just 'eat the view', 

soaking it all in. 

I could feel all my stresses 

seemingly lift 

making me feel quite light headed.

Himself - ever practical suggested the light headedness 

was more to do with the need for a mug of tea and a biscuit next to a river 

than the effect of my surroundings on my senses!

Watching a mother mallard with her ducklings 

as we drank tea and ate cherries

made us smile.

As did a ridiculous lamb who'd got itself on to a stone wall

and bleated continuously to his ignoring mother.

Who, when she walked off grazing, jumped off the wall

and trotted meekly after her.

Then a brief moment of magic. 

 As the sun began to lower, we started off the moors.

Back on to the managed lands, leaving the wildness.

At our final stop, we lingered, finishing off the remains of our picnic.

Overhead a kestrel screamed as it hunted.

 It was a shame to end our day. 

What did you get up to over the weekend?
Did you have an unexpectedly successful micro-adventure?
Did your day turn out much better than hoped?
Did you have a light headed nature inspired moment? (that had nothing to do with needing a mug of tea!)

This walk gave me so many precious moments that I think it might be a treasured one, hard to beat for quite some time :) So glad you came along xxx