I went to see my old Mother today,well she would be old of course being my mother. Anyway I took myself off along the channel-side and up over the big climb. The big climb is an old slag bank from the Iron working days here. A lot of it was carted off to make road filling for motorways and the like but there is still a big chunk left. It is around 115 ft in height and just under a mile long with a winding path over the top. The local authorities just grassed it and planted saplings a few years ago,tarred part of it for a path, placed benches at regular intervals and left nature to do the rest. Nature did just fine it is a lovely place to walk providing the climb is not too much for you with stunning views on a clear day,today was hazy unfortunately. There is plenty of wildlife but as it is mostly hiding amongst the trees and bushes you hear more than you see.
I managed the climb sound in wind but not in limb the legs were struggling a little, I clambered down the other side walked under the railway line, skirted the farm and managed to get across the main road in one piece. This left a short walk up a little lane and on to mothers, total time 1 hour 30 minutes. The old girl was in good nick and we caught up on family news and talked of days and friends long gone before I took a deep breath and prepared to return the way I had come. Then fate took a hand. As I reached the bottom of her road a bus came along so I flashed the pass, the Town Hall is where I change buses and today I stepped off one straight onto the other and a few seconds later it pulled out. So I had a easy ride home and was here in around 30 minutes,a good end to a pleasant morning.
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