Looking both ways

I had a notion to go to Dove Crag near Holystone, about 8 miles up the valley. I had never been as I prefer high open vistas and not manmade forestry. The whole place had been closed for a year for felling and planting.

Ailie said she had a book with directions and we had the OS map. Both were about 25 years old and it turned out the forest had been cut and replanted and the directions given were totally out of date - new roads had been put in to assist with felling and some of the footpaths on the map no longer existed. Anyway we meandered along and eventually scrambled over the bits of branches that had been left in what we thought was the right direction. The blip shows the dripping water and crags - to reach it we went through a little fairy Glen where the trees had been left. It was magical with dripping mosses and lichens.

We got back to the cars easily as the military road to part of the Otterburn army range was on the map and it was a quick mile down it back to the car. We walked only 5.5 miles but took ages what with consulting the book and map and admiring the view where the felled trees had opened up the vista.

Normally we’d travel in one car but we can’t just now. It must be so bad environmentally - yesterday Ailie and 3 friends went to see another friend in Newcastle. 4 cars were involved.

Tonight we are going to our first social occasion. Phil and Carol have invited us for drinks and food at 8pm. Outside of course. The temperature is likely to be around freezing - there was a frost last night and there’s a cold wind. They have a patio heater and I’m taking my electric blanket. If it’s too unpleasant we’ll have to give up early. It certainly will be strange to be sociable.

Last night Ella and Nathaniel FaceTimed to tell me the April Fool tricks they played on their parents. They sandwiched two biscuits together with toothpaste, told their dad they were Oreo biscuits and he ate them. Then they turned the camera on #3 daughter who was changing her top and drying her hair - they had balanced water above a door.