Rambling, farther afield from Coventry

Thanks, Pixrobin. Lovely photo's, have no idea where, but remind me of the towpaths I cycled and walked.

Great pictures Pix, I've always enjoyed walking canal towpaths going back to the 60's and now a friend of mine has bought a narrowboat I get to spend even more time travelling on them

It was an early start for me on Saturday as Steve and I had to be in Kenilworth before 7am to catch the light on the north face of the castle.

Cycled to the Hatton lock cafe. Definitely a good hare day! Peter.

Birmingham's Centenary Square looks quite attractive now (when the sun's out!) with the addition of a reflective pool in front of The Library of Birmingham. Not only can one "walk on water", it appears one can lie down and go to sleep too! I'm heading back there again tomorrow, hoping for better weather than on Sunday

Not quite rambling, but we did do some when we got there. A glorious Sunday a couple of weeks ago my friend's daughter who lives in Cornwall asked us to meet midway and lunch at the Red Lion in Long Compton. So off we set from Torksey, made our way via A46, M69 and Warwick By Pass through Wellesbourne and Shipston and a lovely run into the Cotswolds. My friend's daughter could not have selected a more perfect venue as my parents had lived for a number of years in that village and although I married in Scotland the banns had been read in Long Compton. Anyway, we were early so I showed my friend the old homestead, saw a lady in the garden, stopped and introduced ourselves. Turned out she was the person who had originally bought the property from my parents - great conversation and a lovely memory. Lunch at the Red Lion was excellent as was the beer - local brew - and afterwards, up the hill behind Long Compton to find the Rollright Stones and so the ramble around them, but also the opportunity to view the wonderful landscapes from there. Reflections on the way back after such a lovely day - leafy Warwickshire lives up to its name, and those beautiful, dreamy honey coloured Cotswold villages, some thatched roofs. My friend who is from Scotland (and stays in beautiful Tayside) and I loved the physical and the atmosphere. A lovely day rambling in Warwickshire near Coventry and my roots.

The above is from one of my old posts from October 2013. After taking a year out due to a T.I.A, the path was completed. Being grounded for the past 18/20 months, our next venture is to be the Thames Path starting at the official source in Gloucestershire. We plan to do a couple of days backpacking in November, finishing at Lechlade (about 23 miles).

Mick Strong, I wish you luck, a beautiful path, you will enjoy. The path is a National Trail, 213 miles (340km) long, from its source at Thames Head to the Thames Barrier at Woolwich. I am looking right now at the beautiful map four and a half feet long by one and a half feet wide that I have. I started from Westminster Bridge to the source. I only got to Henley-on-Thames, a distance of about 85 miles by the path, and had to give it up. I was 74 years of age.

Thanks Kaga We are camping at the Thames Head Inn on the Thursday night, walking Friday and hoping to camp somewhere just past Cricklade. Then Saturday walking to Lechlade. Looking at the map, we dont think we shall be able to camp much past Windsor, so we shall probably only do the first 120 miles.

I walked the Thames in 2011. Lovely walk (and good weather). The sign at the source says 183 miles so I was slightly peeved to get to the Thames Barrier to find they their sign said it was only 180 miles. We stayed in hotels but that did make some very long days west of Oxford.

Mick Strong I will never do any walking again, If you would like this map I have you are welcome to it. If there is some way you can send your address, then I will post it to you.

Thanks Kaga, that is very kind of you. Be sure it shall be put to good use. I shall send you my address through the contacts button. Regards Mick

Hi Kaga. Just to let you know the map arrived safely today. Many thanks Mick

Hi all, A re-visit to Earlswood Lakes today, overcast, the odd spot of drizzle wasn't enough to dampen my enjoyment of a bit of a walkabout, a butchers shop sausage batch from near Shirley station was ace. A bit of sunshine might have brightened things up a bit, but it was a lazy day for me. I boarded the 10.45am Blackpool train to Wolverhampton, then backtracked to Galton Bridge. Then the 11.40 from Galton Bridge to the lakes. It can be done quicker, but I didn't fancy lurching around Birmingham. My experience of public transport in covid-recovery is quite good. Need the trams back into New Street. Then it will be cooking.

Hi all, I enjoyed a winter sunshine trip to Atherstone today. It only needed three buses to get there from where I live. The No 3 to the Arena Park, then the 20/48c to Nuneaton, then the 48a to Atherstone. Only a journey time of over well over an hour & half, plus a bit! My high spot was the "Old Bakery Cafe". A dish of cheesy potato, fabulous sausages. Ooooow, them sausages.