The Shining

A Friday Walk then, in all but name, as it’s happening on a Saturday. And a walk done so many times it’s become a meditation now. The Shining Shore.https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Taking place in the lanes around Thurstaston on the far side of the Wirral, I’ve not been here since last March. Mostly urban walking in Liverpool since then. But we’re both off work today and it’s good to get out here together on holiday.
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Still wintry here, the long hedge in Station Road completely bare.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417But for a few left over berries too bitter even for the winter birds.


We’ve parked in the visitor centre on the Wirral Way, where the train station used to be. Hence this being called Station Road.
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417No lambs in the fields yet, just curious sheep.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417But in the Old School House garden the first sign of spring, a crocus.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417At the top of the road we reach Thurstaston, St Bartholomews.

And in the church yard here we find what we are expecting to find in the middle of February.
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417A Galanthus Extravaganza.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417The snowdrops are here.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417All around the gravestones.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417More than ever before.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Celebrating life.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Nature in all its glory, shining.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417And crocuses too.

Or should that be crocci?
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Meanwhile, Sarah’s spotted something, or maybe ‘things’

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417One monkey or two?

As you may well know by now Sarah is cataloguing all known araucaria, or monkey puzzle trees, on her own ‘Monkey Map’ website. And though we’ve been in this church yard many times before we’ve not spent so much time in here on a winter’s day, when the other trees are bare and monkeys are easier to spot.
Looks like one from here, but Sarah suspects it’s actually two trees, a male and a female.
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417The angel thinks it’s one.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417But Sarah’s up on the wall and all over the place to try and prove it’s true.

And is it? See Sarah’s own post on the issue to find what she found!
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Meanwhile it’s time for lunch.

Baked beetroots in garlic and thyme with mozzarella. Plus salads of cabbage, lettuce and tomatoes, with spinach, spring onion, rice and Wensleydale. All prepared by Sarah, thank you.
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Sat here in picture perfect England.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417After lunch we walk the high lane, far above the Dee Estuary.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Past the Christmas tree plantation.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417The hazel catkins.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417And the maybush.

It’s the new camera’s first time on the Shining Shore and it’s enjoying itself.
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Down into the Dungeon, a marshy wood.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417The place will be covered in bluebells in the spring. Here are their bright green shoots.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417The stream slips over into a ravine.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Never seen people climbing up here before.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Sarah gathers kindling.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Dry bark to help with starting the fire at her allotment.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417While I sit and look out over a misty estuary.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417The coast of Wales is out there. But you wouldn’t know.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417So me and the camera focus on closer things. Old fence posts.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Gently degenerating.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417And this perfect tree.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Soon we leave the parish of St Bartholomew.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417And cross Heswall Fields.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417To reach the Shining Shore itself.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Tide well out, boats marooned.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Out there is Ireland.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Time for a cup of tea?

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Then down onto the beach.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417By the boulder clay cliffs.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Watching the birdlife.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417The gentle ducks.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Throwing stones to listen to the ‘pwut’ of them landing in the mud.

Playing with the shutter speed until I actually capture a stone in flight.
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Erosion has slowed this past year, but erosion it is.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Sarah walks quietly in one of her favourite places on the Earth.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417The Shining Shore.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Time to go home?

Not without observing the proprieties.
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Along to Parkgate, to Nicholl’s.

Been going for 78 years now. Making the finest ice cream in the known world, our known world.
https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417Here’s the choice.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417The choice is made.

https://asenseofplaceblog.files.word...pg?w=625&h=417And here we are, on the wall at Parkgate.

Panna Cotta and Strawberry for Sarah. Chocolate and Panna Cotta for me. Both with flakes of course. We’re having a holiday!
See all of 2012’s Friday Walks here. And search the blog on Thurstaston or Shining Shore to see this perfect walk done in other years, in all seasons.
Recommended article: Chomsky: We Are All – Fill in the Blank.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.


More...