Walking for Health

Today I joined the Hexham Health Walk. There are walks organised in 9 different towns/villages in West Northumberland on a weekly basis. They are all short walks, taken at a steady pace, and are ideal for those of us who are trying to regain our strength and stamina.

Today's walk was led by my friend and fellow Haltwhistle walker, Caroline, and we did a circular from Newbrough Village. This is very near to the house we lived in at Allerwash, so was very familiar country to me. 

The best part was the walk to St Peter's Church in Newbrough because the snowdrops there are spectacular. It's the place where I first saw red squirrels, although there were none to see today. My blip in is the field beside the church where there was still ice on the surface of the pond. You can see that it was sunny and bright.

I found the group very friendly and welcoming. I may try the Corbridge group on Wednesday. I need to get out regularly to keep Arth on track for the Walking Festival in April!

This afternoon we had a surprise visit from my friend Pauline. It was just wonderful to see her. We always pick up where we left off. She had just bought a large original pastel painting so we saw that too. It's great when people come and bring news from the "outside world" for Mum.

I've been to the Tynedale Photo Group tonight where we were wowed by the work of Alan and Julie Walker. They love photographing in the snow and in sub zero temperatures, both landscape and wildlife. I don't think that I will ever be able to kneel in the edge of the sea, wearing chest waders, in the freezing cold to photograph bears fishing for salmon. I did enjoy the photographs!!