Tag: bushcraft

Walking the Chester “sponsored walk” route.

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The forest in Westminster Park, Chester.
The forest in Westminster Park, Chester.

Its a beautiful day and I decide to go on a really long walk (by that I mean a long local walk, which, in relative terms is pretty short compared to say a hill walk).

Each year in Chester, there is a sponsored walk (I have taken part 3 times). Being here in Chester, where everything is done with a bit of style, participants are greeted on the route with Bacon Butty’s and Gyn and tonic throughout the walk.

Its a great trail, that leads through 2 of my favourite places here in Chester, The earls eye in the meadows, and the Westminster park.  It can be done both ways around, but I decide to walk to Westminster park first. I don’t walk up the main drive, but instead, take a trail off to the left and wander through the Forrest for nearly an hour.

While there, I see some young lads with Shovels. They have already constructed a mountain bike track, further up the trail, but now they are building an even more ambitious one. Its nice to see young people doing something practical and instead of complaining, actually solving a problem themselves.

The road back into Chester
The road back into Chester

I normally like to be on my own in the woods, but stop to chat to them for a moment. I continue to the top of the park, walk down an A road, and then pick up the riverside walk, back towards the Meadows.

All sorts of things have been implemented to stop it flooding, but its still frequently submerged. Since the water there is pure and uncontaminated, there is loads of animal and plant life  (some of it unique in the country).

Cows grazing in the Meadows.
Cows grazing in the Meadows.

I see a couple of people eating picnics along the bank of the river and some cows grazing as they have done for centuries before (not these particular cows though, they would be dead of old age !).

Wander back, all the way along to the hand bridge. Cross over, and walk down the waterfront toward the band stand. Ive been walking now for 3 and a half hours (Ive been taking it easy). Technically, the rout hasn’t cost any money, but its a fantastic day and I treat myself to an ice lolly, courtesy of BT.

My “Personal” Birthday

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birthday

Well, its that time of year, and its my birthday once again. I normally spend my actual birthday (the 7th) on my own reflecting and planning for the future and have my birthday celebration (this year the 9th in Liverpool) a few days later.

An old friend Andy Gepp (who at the time I called  a Buffoon ) once told me that he always took a day of on his birthday. He reasoned that otherwise, it just becomes like any other day.

Ive always felt the same way, although taking a day off at the moment is a bit redundant (pardon the pun). Still, a candles as bright as you see it, and a day is as special as you make it.

No gym, and a 9am lie in as a treat. Nothing to do, as I have already cleaned my room, prepared my clothes and everything, so nothing routine needs doing today (apart from reviewing available jobs).

Read texts and emails wishing me happy birthday (a nice virtual card from Frank and Na) and then go downstairs and start opening my cards.

Bath and get ready ( Ill be doing some walking later, so I try for the “stylish rugged look” that I can sometimes pull off).

When people think of luxury’s, they probably think of yachts and Ferrari’s. One pure luxury for me, that I absolutely love, is having a sit down full English breakfast. I head for British home stores, and order the whole 10 items breakfast.

Plenty of fuel, I head towards the Grosvenor Park. Its a beautiful day and the sun is shining. After spending another 40 minutes, just wandering around and sitting in the sun, I head for the waterfront, across the handbridge and up towards the Westminster park.

I wander deep into the forest and then leave the path. Exploring in forests is one of life’s pleasures for me. On a tracking course some years ago I was taught to do a sit spot. It involved sitting very still. It was designed as a stalking technique, but over the years Ive learned to develop it to help me relax.

I can do it now for up to 3 hours, but on this occasion, being all alone in the forest, an hour is enough. Wander through Handbridge, notice ANOTHER new pub there.  Decide to organise a pub crawl up there at some point in the near future.

Mum calls, and we chat for about half an hour. I miss being in Manchester, but Ive been back and I know that Chester’s my home.  Say goodbye to mum, and then head for the meadows (pictured above).

Loads of open ground to walk along, then I make for the banks of the river Dee, and wander back towards Chester town center.

Its nearly lunchtime, so I head back to my local, the Frog and Nightingale. All the staff are there, as its Race day (I hate the Chester Races as town gets really busy, but its no problem, as I have other plans for the afternoon). I get various congratulations (and free “birthday” pints).

Its lunchtime but I’m not hungry after such an enormous breakfast. I know from experience, it takes 28 minutes to walk from the Frog to the Cinema, and the first showing of the new Star Trek film will be at 12:50 so I set of (I have given myself an emergency 2 minutes to spare).

Arrive at the Cinema, the film starts almost straight away, which is excellent. Wont talk too much about the film, as its mentioned in this weeks media review.  Suffice to say, it was completely on the wavelength of my birthday mood.

Nip back to see my friends Sean and Mandy. They don’t own half the things I own, haven’t been to a 10th of the places ives seen nor done a 100th of the things Ive done, but they are quite the happiest couple I know, its a pleasure to spend time with them and always gives me a sense of perspective about whats really important.

While there, a mate texts me, and asks how to get into a certain pub (a lot of nice local pubs, get swamped by racegoers, and they have invented some quite ingenious techniques for ensuring only locals and regular get in. Its for this reason, I wont mention the name of the pub nor the routine, in this case).

I explain the procedure and I get a text a few minutes later, he and his friends have got into the pub.

A text from Dan, inviting me out for the evening. The Oaklands, a pub I have never taken too. Still a few friends are out, who I havent seen for a while, so I head over.  Evening turns out pretty cool after all (they must have sacked all the staff and re-hired).

On the way home, I pop into the Sea Breeze chippy in Hoole.  Pie and Chips, home, one episode of  Special Victims Unit and then bed.  Another birthday over.