Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Where's The Sun Gone Then??
It was absolutely gorgeous over the weekend. Really hot with lovely cloudless blue skies... we are now back to a covering of grey so maybe that was summer!
I took advantage though and decided to do a 15 mile walk, setting off for Radcliffe-on-Trent and the Trent Valley Way. It was so hot, I took my SLR camera and decided to walk rather than run. I set off past the National Water Sports Centre and followed the road which eventually leads to a path through playing fields to Radcliffe-on-Trent. This is part of the Trent Valley Way, and on reaching Radcliffe, it becomes a lovely path at the top of the cliffs rising above the River Trent. I could see right across to the path on the other side of the river I used to use when I lived in Netherfield!
Shortly after the weir, I climbed back up to the Trent Valley Way, which became a path through fields of rape- there is something really pleasing about the sight of the bright yellow against a deep blue sky- or maybe I am slightly sad!!
The path dropped to the Trent, which I followed to the Ferryboat Inn- seemed awfully strange being on this side of the River... it's a bit of a shame really that there isn't a crossing between the bridges of Lady Bay and Gunthorpe.
I followed a lovely little country lane up to the village of Sheldon;
Sheldon is a lovely little village, so I had a little wander around it and up a couple of lanes.
Sheldon Church
It was very very hot, and I was starting to run low on liquid, so had to start limiting myself- not the best of ideas! I had originally intended to go further and eventually reach the A52, but decided to cut the route slightly shorter- it looked as though it was going to be around 15 miles anyway. There was a footpath running from the village along the top of the rape field, joining up with the Trent Valley way, which was well maintained and a pleasure to follow.
When I reached Radcliffe-on-Trent I was starting to suffer a bit with the heat, and was probably getting a little dehydrated, so detoured to the Co-op and bought a bottle of ice cold mineral water- pure bliss! There was even a public toilet opposite- luxury!!
I walked back to the playing fields where there had been a football match in full progress. Only there wasn't any more- just a couple of ambulances in the middle of the pitch attending some poor soul who had obviously been overcome by the heat...
By the time I got back to the main road I had done just over 14 miles, so despite feeling hot, tired and in desparate need of a shower, I decided to walk up the canal to try to make it a full 15 miles.
The Canal- Near My House!
By the time I reached the bridge leading to my house, I had done 14 1/2 miles, so with a supreme effort of will I forced myself to battle through duck feeders, small children and cyclists to the next bridge and walk back home- clocking up exactly 15 miles! I now have a slightly sunburned nose (must have missed it with the suncream!)
I am quite tempted to try to walk the Trent Valley Way one day... I believe it's around 77 miles though... right, suppose I had better get back out there again!!
I took advantage though and decided to do a 15 mile walk, setting off for Radcliffe-on-Trent and the Trent Valley Way. It was so hot, I took my SLR camera and decided to walk rather than run. I set off past the National Water Sports Centre and followed the road which eventually leads to a path through playing fields to Radcliffe-on-Trent. This is part of the Trent Valley Way, and on reaching Radcliffe, it becomes a lovely path at the top of the cliffs rising above the River Trent. I could see right across to the path on the other side of the river I used to use when I lived in Netherfield!
You can just about spot the retail park in the distance...
I found a path down to the river and followed this for a bit to see where it led- it led to a large weir I had never noticed before!
Shortly after the weir, I climbed back up to the Trent Valley Way, which became a path through fields of rape- there is something really pleasing about the sight of the bright yellow against a deep blue sky- or maybe I am slightly sad!!
I followed a lovely little country lane up to the village of Sheldon;
It was very very hot, and I was starting to run low on liquid, so had to start limiting myself- not the best of ideas! I had originally intended to go further and eventually reach the A52, but decided to cut the route slightly shorter- it looked as though it was going to be around 15 miles anyway. There was a footpath running from the village along the top of the rape field, joining up with the Trent Valley way, which was well maintained and a pleasure to follow.
I walked back to the playing fields where there had been a football match in full progress. Only there wasn't any more- just a couple of ambulances in the middle of the pitch attending some poor soul who had obviously been overcome by the heat...
By the time I got back to the main road I had done just over 14 miles, so despite feeling hot, tired and in desparate need of a shower, I decided to walk up the canal to try to make it a full 15 miles.
By the time I reached the bridge leading to my house, I had done 14 1/2 miles, so with a supreme effort of will I forced myself to battle through duck feeders, small children and cyclists to the next bridge and walk back home- clocking up exactly 15 miles! I now have a slightly sunburned nose (must have missed it with the suncream!)
I am quite tempted to try to walk the Trent Valley Way one day... I believe it's around 77 miles though... right, suppose I had better get back out there again!!
Labels: radcliffe-on-trent, shelford, Trent Valley Way
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
It's Cold!!!
I usually love May- it's usually warm and sunny, with pink and white blossom and bright yellow fields of rape seed everywhere... so why is it so bloody cold and wet!?!
Still annoyed with myself for not doing the Valleys and Views, it's time I got tough on myself and knuckled down to some serious training- especially as one of this year's goals is the Bullock Smithy. I have set my sights on the Baslow Boot Bash on June 12th.
I went ot the gym last night and flogged myself on the free weights and treadmill, and have been out for a couple of runs. The latest walk I did was a 13 miler- I intended to start at Cotgrave, follow the canal to Kinoulton and cross the fields to the A46 before returning to Cotgrave through Clipston woods.
The first sign that things may not go according to plan was just before reaching the A46 via the canal... and finding metal gates across the path with a sign saying 'path closed'. I should have thought of this before really- the A46 is going through a widening scheme meaning years of roadworks and disruption. Looking at the barriers, I realised it was possible to slip round them and walk along the top of the old lock on the other side of a wooden fence. The canal is dry at this point, and beyond this had been obliterated (temporarily) by the road works, so I ran over ridges and mounds of earth and under the A46.
There were more barriers the other side- but it is possible to scramble up the other side of the canal, climb a wooden fence and join up with the path from a little car park on the A46.
Blocked Path...
Things were uneventful after this... until I reached Kinoulton and walked through the village to the footpath towards the A46. It was then I saw the large notice on the stile, announcing that the path- plus all the surrounding ones leading to the A46- were all closed...
I was so glad I put my map in my bag cos I nearly didn't! So, with much cursing against the powers to be who decided that the A46 should be a dual carriageway between Bingham and Newark, I retraced my steps and picked up a footpath along the other side of the canal. My intention was to join a bridleway which led to the road between Owthorpe and Cotgrave as there was a useful looking byway running parrallel to the road.
However, when I reached it there was the familiar notice saying it was shut- in fact every single footpath, bridleway and byway either reaching or crossing the A46 is shut- not very useful! I ended up following the road back... at one point I didn't know how I was going to cross the A46!!
I just hope they reroute at least some of the paths when the work is done...
Still annoyed with myself for not doing the Valleys and Views, it's time I got tough on myself and knuckled down to some serious training- especially as one of this year's goals is the Bullock Smithy. I have set my sights on the Baslow Boot Bash on June 12th.
I went ot the gym last night and flogged myself on the free weights and treadmill, and have been out for a couple of runs. The latest walk I did was a 13 miler- I intended to start at Cotgrave, follow the canal to Kinoulton and cross the fields to the A46 before returning to Cotgrave through Clipston woods.
The first sign that things may not go according to plan was just before reaching the A46 via the canal... and finding metal gates across the path with a sign saying 'path closed'. I should have thought of this before really- the A46 is going through a widening scheme meaning years of roadworks and disruption. Looking at the barriers, I realised it was possible to slip round them and walk along the top of the old lock on the other side of a wooden fence. The canal is dry at this point, and beyond this had been obliterated (temporarily) by the road works, so I ran over ridges and mounds of earth and under the A46.
There were more barriers the other side- but it is possible to scramble up the other side of the canal, climb a wooden fence and join up with the path from a little car park on the A46.
Things were uneventful after this... until I reached Kinoulton and walked through the village to the footpath towards the A46. It was then I saw the large notice on the stile, announcing that the path- plus all the surrounding ones leading to the A46- were all closed...
I was so glad I put my map in my bag cos I nearly didn't! So, with much cursing against the powers to be who decided that the A46 should be a dual carriageway between Bingham and Newark, I retraced my steps and picked up a footpath along the other side of the canal. My intention was to join a bridleway which led to the road between Owthorpe and Cotgrave as there was a useful looking byway running parrallel to the road.
However, when I reached it there was the familiar notice saying it was shut- in fact every single footpath, bridleway and byway either reaching or crossing the A46 is shut- not very useful! I ended up following the road back... at one point I didn't know how I was going to cross the A46!!
I just hope they reroute at least some of the paths when the work is done...
Labels: baslow boot bash
