Judging by this morning's walk, 'the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness', is here! Jenny and Belinda and I walked to West Shepton and ended up in Bowlish, before heading up the High Street and back home through Collett Park.
It was inspiring to chat, catch up and talk about where our lives are at the moment and what we want for the future...
We saw plenty of flowers around Shepton and in people's front gardens, as well as blackberries and loads of red berries...
Collett Park and the allotments still have plenty of colour and interest as can be seen above. Town Street (the pedestrian walkway joining the High Street is getting more and more interesting with new interior and vintage shops. If you are wondering what I am looking at in the picture above - some scaffolding is being put up for a building to have a facelift. All good news for the High Street...
During the last couple of weeks, the cold, dark, and sometimes extremely wet mornings, without a walking companion, have meant that I have struggled to get up and out! As I have been missing the exercise, today I dragged my husband out for a walk in the sunshine, just after lunch, even though he much prefers the manicured fairways of the golf club and with regular stops to swing his golf clubs...
It is so easy to stay indoors in the warm and hibernate this time of year. But, having recently read, that spending time outdoors encourages the production of endorphins - natural painkillers that trigger feelings of well being, and helps to set our biological clock and promotes more restful sleep, I thought I should make the effort to get outside more, even if it was only to the local park...
Collett Park is beautiful and well cared for, whatever the season or weather - see above. It is a well used and a much loved park for all Shepton residents. There is always something to see - this time of year it is fungi, berries and autumn leaves!
The park was gifted to the town by John Kyte Collett in 1906. The story goes, that as a boy he was told off for playing in fields that were once where the park is now, as they were privately owned. Years later the land was auctioned off, and he bought some of the lots so that anybody could use it for recreation. This act of generosity is celebrated on the 2nd Saturday in June with the annual Collett Park Festival which has in the last couple of years grown to include more of the weekend...
As I had nobody to walk with, I decided to go alone. It was just meant to be a short excursion to get some fresh air and exercise on lanes and bridle ways. But two hours later I was home, with soaking wet feet and tired legs!
I started with good intentions, going down lanes and bridle ways to keep my feet dry. Then, somehow, I was on footpaths and into the long grass which was soaking wet with dew. Note to self - I need some lightweight, waterproof walking boots!
It was dry, pleasant walking weather and I saw some wildlife, including rabbits and this bird, which I believe is a partridge, who didn't fly off until I got close! I also photographed some impressive fungi on a couple of trees and loads of Autumnal foliage...
In Los Angeles, Chuck McCarthy, an actor, has started a business - 'people-walking'! Instead of dog-walking (he didn't like picking up the poo!), he has advertised to take people out! He charges $7 (£5.50) an hour and his flyers say - "Need motivation to walk? Don't want people to see you walking alone and assuming you have no friends? Don't like listening to music or podcasts but can't walk alone in silence, forced to face thoughts of the unknown future, or your own significance in the ever-expanding universe?"
Apparently, he has had a great response, and so in L.A., there is obviously a need! Perhaps it I should try it over here!!...
I have missed a few walks as I have been on holiday. It is good to go away and get a change of scene, but it is always great to get home and back to familiar surroundings and routines...
I was in France and when I came back it was warm over here too! The sunny weather continued this morning, but there was a hint of Autumn in the air. It was certainly darker when I got up and the grasses were wet with dew...
We noticed other signs of the season changing - blackberries ripening, red berries, grapes on a vine, and flowers and grasses going to seed. We went up on one of our favourite vantage points above Shepton - Barren Down (see top set of pics), and were rewarded with a wonderful sight. It was a deer, complete with antlers, which suddenly bounded out of the undergrowth, not more than 25 feet from us - too quick to take a photo!
