Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: November 2020

Back up to St Ives the morning after my last blog and wow what a visit. Experiencing a morning like this are a very rare occurrence for me, possibly because I'm usually a pretty slow starter to the day. I would normally rather have that second cup of coffee or hang about for that fog to lift rather than get my backside into gear and get out. Maybe one of the reasons I did get out early was because it was a Saturday and I knew that if I didn't get to St Ives at a reasonable time, I wouldn't get a parking spot plus it would be too busy to be enjoyable.

Anyway putting that aside, the fact of the matter is I did get off my backside, I did get a parking spot, I did have a fabulous walk and took some great photos in the process. There were still a few people about even at that time in a morning, most being dog walkers. Also, there was a young lady from the riding school taking her horse up to the top field for its early morning run. To say it was a bit frisky and excitable would be a slight understatement as she had all-on to keep hold of its reigns and keep it under control.

I did my usual circuit, stopping off at The Druid's Alter before walking through Race Course Plantation to the highest point of the walk. From there it was downhill all the way, and I was back at Coppice pond in no time at all. The Ivy Kitchen was just opening but, as I didn't have a mask with me, I had to miss out on one of their delightful coffees.

Such a shame as it would have been the perfect way to end my walk.

Bridleway to The Druid's Alter

Alter Woods

Alter Lane

Misty Copse

Bridleway to The Druid's Alter

Race Course Plantation

One final burst of autumn colour from the place which has helped me stay sane this year. I've lost count of the number of times that I have walked the path up to The Druid's Alter and sat overlooking the Aire Valley, trying to make sense of what has been going on around me since the pandemic hit in March. Eight months have now passed, and we seem no nearer to seeing any closure. A vaccine is reportedly on the horizon and all being well will be in use by the end of the year but I fear this virus will never go away.

The only positive thing to come out of all this mess is the realization that the long-standing friendship I have had with mother nature over the years has, yet again, been my salvation. Unfortunately others have been less fortunate.