The Geordie Tourist.: Walking

A Morning Down By the River.

The other day I decided to go back to my favourite little river spot, which is right on my door step and somewhere I can go to think about things. The sound of the water running down the stream never fails to immediately put me at ease. Of course I took Poppy, and of course, she ran around crazily and I took a heap load of photos of her. (What can I say, sometimes I’m predictable)

She's forever hiding in tall grass or behind bushes and things. I can't help but laugh when I turn around and have to find her.

The river is such a calm place, there is never anyone else around which I love. It was a relatively warm day, considering some of the colder ones we have had recently.

I threw sticks for Poppy and watched as one by one they skimmed past her in the water and went too far down stream. She managed to keep track of one though, and we spent a good bit of time just playing about in the water.

I love walking. It gives me time to just reflect on things. It's particularly good if you have been worrying about something and want to get clarity, or even if you want to feel inspired. I'm trying to generate ideas for a book and the little stroll I had proved invaluable. Plus the sounds of the birds as you walk makes me feel like I'm in a Disney film.

I love how different the light is when you're out trying to take photos. One side can be all dark and grey and a bit mysterious, then you can look the other way and there's bright blue skies and colour everywhere. It always fascinates me.

I can't wait for Spring now. At the moment there are still some autumnal hues about which look great against a blue sky. I'm excited for flowers and butterflies though.

After the river we continued onto Bowes Valley Nature Reserve. To me, it's like my own big back garden. I walk these routes all of the time. I bump into people every once in a while and it's nice, but mostly I'm free to just roam where I please and take in all of the sights and sounds that I come across.

Do any of you have a favourite nature spot?

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The Sunday Stroll: The Attempted Family Walk.

Dog Walking 14:30

Yesterday, the family and I went on a little country walk. We’ve all been trying to be a bit healthier and have been going swimming and playing the odd game of badminton. (Well trying to play I should say.) So with the weather being somewhat alright, we thought a nice little walk through the woods, near the Rownlands Gill/Swalwell area would be a canny way to spend a Sunday.

We’ve been around this way before, I like how everything is linked together, you just have to try and find your way to certain bits, for example Thornley Woods and also Derwent Walk. (Which are both favourites of mine.)

I like how there are signposts telling you where you are and how long it will take to get to certain areas. From where we started it was going to take 3 and a bit miles to end up at Rowlands Gill. Everyone was up for it and Poppy kept bumping into other dogs to play with as we walked.

As you can imagine, I wandered off and took pictures of various tree formations and little ponds we saw on the way.

I go through periods of looking for different things. Last spring/summer it was all about the butterflies. At the moment, I like seeing what trees look like against the sky as a backdrop. What the leaves look like and what shapes they make. (maybe I'm weird) closeups of flowers are good too.

After a while we all began to get a bit tired. I’d like to say that we pushed on and went the full distance there and back, but no. We were all slightly bored and dying to get home and have Sunday dinner if I’m being honest. I mean who doesn’t love a good Sunday roast.

At least we made an attempt, it was still a good little walk. Next time I think we'll take the bikes instead. I love a good ole bike ride. The main aim is to just get outside and enjoy nature, have a bit of fun and do a little bit of exercise.

I also spotted some freaky looking fungi. I might go mad for butterflies and flowers, but stick some mushrooms in front of me and I go crazy. (yes, definitely weird.)

How did you send your Sunday?

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Night-time at the Angel of the North.

Angel of the North 00:00

I was looking back at some old photos and came across some from visiting the Angel of the North. It made me realise that 1. It’s been ages since I went and just stood and looked at it for a while. (It’s quite calming if you've never been before.) 2. That I've never been when it's dark. I’m not talking 11 O’clock at night when its pitch black and you can barely see your feet never mind the big 20ft statue. No, I’m talking more like just as the sun is setting. You know those great nights, when the sky is beautiful and shows every shade of blue, orange and pink imaginable. Its times like this I wish I had a top notch camera that could pick up every hue. My phone didn't do too badly though when I went with Poppy for a little stroll.

I met a nice couple when I was there and the lady was talking to me about how much she loved seeing the Angel. I guess when you live right beside it you forget what effect it has on tourists. For me the Angel will always remind me of home, it’s that big hunk of steel that I see on my way back from a lot of journeys and it just instantly puts me at ease. Any other Geordies’ have that feeling?

I walked the dog around for a bit whilst getting as many pictures as I could. I must have shot it from every angle possible. I then tried to get a decent selfie which was just nigh on impossible. I have a blurry pic of me mid laugh with some steel feet in the background. Slight fail maybe.

I got one of Poppy standing beside it though which will have to do. Maybe I should invest in a selfie stick. Or maybe if I wasn't so embarrassed I’d ask someone to take my picture. My face would do that weird smile things that Chandler’s does on Friends though and no one wants to see that. It’s better not to have the picture.

We were just getting ready to come home, when a girl that had been jogging appeared out of nowhere. She started taking pictures. I moved so my Chandler Bing grin wouldn't be in any of her shots. Next thing I know she seems to be on her knees praying or meditating or something. I guess the Angel means different things to different people which is amazing. I like the idea that people can get something out of visiting the Angel instead of just looking at it. Don't get me wrong that's great too, but there's just something magical about people using it to prey or help them in some way.

I also find it amazing how from one direction the light is totally different and the Angel's figure is in silhouette, then when you see if from the other direction, it looks like you're seeing it at a different point in time entirely.

Have any of you been to the Angel recently? What about past bed time?

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Ousbrough Wood and it's Many Paths.

Dog Friendly 10:10

You know I like to go walking. I think more than 60% of the posts that I write on here are to do with walking through woods, or thinking I’m some kind of wilderness explorer. (A little Up reference for you there.)

Sometimes I like to go further afield and explore somewhere new, other times when I just can’t be bothered, but yet still need to take Poppy our pooch out, I’ll stay closer to home. I've explored quite a lot of the forest lands next to where I live, but that still doesn't stop me from stumbling upon the unknown.

Like the other day for example. I was just going about my business, on the same route I've walked numerous times and it was just like out of nowhere this little path appeared at Ousbrough Wood. I’m making it sound like magic, as if the earth came to life and made me a passageway, I wish. No, but I can’t believe that I never spotted it before.

Being the curious little so and so that I am I decided to walk along it and see where it would take me. It basically took me to another wood. It was still Ousbrough, but not how I know it, or how I'd seen it until that point. I passed a tree where there was at least ten caterpillars just huddled together on a branch. The air seemed cleaner and fresh. Ousbrough to me is always quite misty and mysterious, as it’s so low down and shaded by the trees. This part wasn't at all. There were still huge trees about. You know when you look and you can just see pines for miles and miles. The sun was shining through them though.

There was a wooden walkway and a massive trunk had fallen along the way. It’s like its set up as a proper walk, yet nature happens and there’s things growing through the planks and the wood is twisted to accommodate the trees.

After a little while we found the exit. It took me a while to realise where I was to start with. It was another entrance to the woods. I've drove past it so many times without knowing. It’s strange how you can just do that.

My aim now is to try and see where other paths lead to. It’s like exploring the same parts, but not entirely. I went with my mam recently too and we pretty much got lost as we had wandered off the track so much. There are just so many little winding paths and dirt roads that you can follow. I like finding a new one and then seeing if it leads to somewhere that I know. I’m making a mental check list and crossing them off as I go.

We crossed the road and started on another path, again one I’d been to a few times. I was still finding little routes that I knew nothing about. We passed some cool looking fungi too, which just came out of nowhere.

So maybe sometimes you get bored of walking, or having to take your dog/cat/pet fish out etc. Finding a new route can make all the difference. You never know what you’re going to stumble upon. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a talking tree or a magic wishing well. A girl can dream…

Have any of you been exploring anywhere new lately?

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Woodland Walks and Muddy Paws.

Dirty Dancing 14:45

I realise a lot of posts on here recently are walks that I've took with Poppy. They usually consist of me going to some forest type area and dragging someone else with me for company. Then I walk around for a bit taking photos of plants and flowers and the odd bee/butterfly that I find. I also rope the dog into it too. I’m not talking putting her in funny outfits and making her dance, but still you know what I mean.

Anyways, I guess all of that was just a really long way of saying that this post is no different. I hopped in my mam’s jeep and my brother and I took Poppy out. (Shock)

It was about 6/7 o’clock and the sun was still shining. It wasn't really chilly or anything and it just seemed nice and calm. Across the road from where we parked you could see all of the sheep still out grazing in the fields. It still surprises me how just five minutes away I can be totally in the countryside away from everything (I love it.)

We went around where we normally go, but this time we picked a different entrance. At the time I didn't know that it was going to lead us to the same paths that we normally take, but lo and behold it did.

It’s good in a way, because now I’m starting to find out where each little walk takes me to. I come across loads of little dirt paths, or openings in the trees and I’m beyond curious as to where they go. Now I can start finding out.

So we were walking and then we came across a pond/lake. I would say it was too big to be a pond, and maybe too small to be considered a lake, so I don’t really know where that leaves us. It was lovely just looking at the water. It wasn't the cleanest, but you couldn't really tell when you looked far out. There was a big tree trunk at the water’s edge and I felt like walking over it Dirty Dancing style. (I don’t have the balance for it though.)

Poppy went off by herself and got covered in mud. I had to keep throwing sticks into the water so she could go in for them and clean her muddy paws in the process.

There were fish too. You could just see the ripples in the water where they kept coming towards the surface. They were probably only tiny ones, but I’d definitely like to go back and have a little go at fishing. Maybe just putting a bucket in the water and seeing what happens.

I think I'll check out a few other curious paths next time. Who knows, it might lead me on a familiar trail or somewhere else entirely...