Wednesday 10 March 2021

Along the River Wye

 


Here are some photos of a walk along the River Wye this week - we had to go to the PO and then got some fresh air along by the river.


There were 20 or so Canada Geese making the most of the grass on the riverbank pasture.


The view upstream looking a bit dour in low light from grey skies.  In the summer it will be beautiful.


Part of the path onwards - we can do a lovely circular walk round the park and then back up to home, which we have planned for warmer weather.


This is a new plant to me - White Butterbur. It grows in several places along the riverbank.  It is an invasive species, introduced ornamentally as long ago as 1683 from Europe.  It was possibly introduced to provide early feed for bees at a time when sugar was a scarce commodity.


One of a pair of Goosanders who are on the river at the moment.

Above and below: lovely signpost for Rhayader and Brecon (cycle trail).





I don't know what this plane is but it had big rotors at the front and a double tail fin.



Someone enjoying their fly fishing, but I can't help thinking he must have been cold, stood that deep in the river.



We walked as far as the bridge over the River Irfon (here it is heading to join the Wye 100 yds or so from the bridge).

I have since walked along there with Keith - he can manage to walk more easily on the flat (he prefers walking on the flat to up and down the hills by us).  

Today has been a frustrating day trying to make phone calls to change addresses - Pensions are a real PITA - and being put on hold for ten minutes by SSE when I tried to give them the arrival reading when we got here on 15th January - they have based the bill on an Estimate but clearly don't want to have the right reading so they can give us a smaller bill.  We did NOT use £80 worth of electricity in under a month - we didn't even use that much at our last home which was double the size.  They are going to get a stinking letter from me!

22 comments:

  1. Pirate says the plane is called a Dynacopter

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  2. A really pretty place to walk. It is still so wintry at the moment.

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    1. Spring is slowly unfolding now, but this morning (gales and heavy showers) it still seems very much winter.

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  3. My husband tells me your plane is an Osprey - American military. The engines can rotate so it lifts and manoevers like a helicopter or fly as a conventional plane.
    Thanks for your lovely photos - I do enjoy seeing the lovely part of the world you live in. x

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    1. Hi and welcome Beacee - that would make sense. My husband thought it had the lifting engines but couldn't remember the name. It is lovely here and we discover new delights every week.

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  4. We love that signpost. Great countryside around you.

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    1. The town (Rotary Club especiallyit seems) has done some lovely ironwork to commemorate things and generally make the town look attractive. Must take a photo of the gigantic sculpture of a bull next time I'm down there.

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  5. I spent 52 minutes getting through to Eon for final meter reading yesterday!
    Some lovely walks for you when the weather is better

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    1. I haven't tried again but will write instead.

      SO many walks to try - I will head for the hilltops this summer, whilst I still have the puff to do them (albeit slowly).

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  6. I have never seen a plane like that.

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    1. My husband had, but couldn't remember the name. Apparently Fairy's in Manchester designed one very similar in the 1950s (way ahead of its time) but the Government wouldn't buy it . . .

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  7. Love all your places to walk. So wonderful. Nothing remotely as interesting within walking distance of me.

    Funny, my DD has designed electrical components for that aircraft. Small world.

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    1. Oh what a shame you don't have good walking locally. It's such a balm to the soul with Lockdown. How far are you from walking places then?

      Fancy your DD having designed electrical components for that!

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    2. Can't walk out of my neighborhood as the road is a windy, hilly two lane one with no shoulders and frequent trees along the edge. It is fairly busy and people are usually going 50 mph (10 over the limit), so it is too much of a risk (especially with idiots who think they can text while driving). Have to drive 15-30 miles (one way) to find a park for walking and not all that interesting once you get there. While I live on a peninsula, most of the views of water on either side are on private property. The US does not have the kind of public footpaths like the UK.

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    3. I an joy your walk. Your trees are showing hints of green already. So envious!

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    4. The very tips are showing some signs of tiny leaflets but the only new green in the garden is on a big Dog Rose which has grown up through a hazel tree. That should put on a real show in June.

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    5. Mary, so sorry you don't have walking locally and that the park isn't up to much either. The walking where we lived before was mostly lanes - here we have the WILD!!

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  8. It looks a lovely walk and fairly free of people :) I've seen pink butterbur at a location near me but never a white one. You are fortunate to have such scenic places to walk so close to home :)

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    1. Lots of Pink Butterburs around Hay Castle and also on the verge from Clyro on the Hereford road out. We are SO lucky with the walking. Keith is trying to get fitter so we are doing this walk daily now.

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  9. I am still surprised that you have Canada Geese there.

    God bless.

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    1. We have them all year round in some places. They were down to just two the other day so I thought they were looking for fresh grass but no, they were back again today in the same bigger numbers.

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