Fancy a Walk?

As I'm on my own at the moment,

I thought you might like to join me

on this mornings walk.

As it was very misty this morning,

I waited until it had cleared

before driving up the valley.

So it was later than usual

and very warm.

I decided to seek shade where I could.

This road offered some shade for a while,

as well as being very pretty.

It was a shortish walk

to where the view opened out across the valley.

While admiring the view,

this plane flew over.

It is a regular.

Sometimes there are two of them,

and they fly quite low,

and slow.

Apparently they are training planes.

On a bit more

and we have reached the end of the track.

It used to continue,

but now they are building a new road.

So we turn round to go back down,

but not before we see a deer leaping through the bushes.

As usual, Jewel got very excited.

She would have ran after it if I hadn't had tight hold of her.

Unfortunately the deer was too quick for me with the camera.

Back near the start of our walk

we pass this hostel.

It's used by groups,

mainly young people I think.

The new road runs right behind it.

It's future is uncertain.

I think the beauty of this place

is that it feels quite isolated

without really being so.

Next we follow the road down to the left.

We pass where the van is parked

and carry on.

Admiring the trees as we go.

We take a track into the vineyards.

I stop to watch a lizard

on these old poles.

Can you see it?

It's more or less in the centre of the photo

on the end of the pole.

It's tale is hanging down.

Click on the photo for a larger view.

As I stop a moment to look at the lizard,

Jewel takes the opportunity to have a lie down.

Paddy joins her.

So I take a look at the vineyards.

They are looking very bare.

No leaves,

and little vine.

You can see the difference in these two photos

in the way that the vines are trained.

Looking below me,

I can see that the dandelions are taking hold in some of the vineyards.

Can you see the little tractor

in between the vines?

Time to go.

There's a welcome drink at the end of the walk for some.

It turned out to be another hot day today,

perhaps the hottest yet.

I noticed the thermometer reading 26 degrees centigrade in the shade this afternoon.

But there was some wind as well,

always a sign of a change in the weather.

As long as it doesn't rain tomorrow.