PathOur Annual New Year's walk this year had a theme - 'In the Footsteps of Ted Hughes' - and was based on the town of Mytholmroyd, the birthplace of the former Poet Laureate some 80 years ago. Joan and Donald had organised two walk options, one of about 4 miles on level paths and another of an extra 2 miles which included some gradients. Sixteen members set out together along the Rochdale canal from Mytholmroyd and soon encountered a surprise when Donald spotted primroses flowering on the canal bank. After the recent cold spell it was nice to be walking on ice-free paths in intermittent bright sunshine. After a lunch stop in the park at Luddendenfoot (an excellent shelter that would have been very welcome in inclement weather) the group split with 6 opting for the longer walk and 10 the easy alternative.
Poetry ReadingThe walkers on the shorter route had the best of the bird life as they came across goosanders, mandarin ducks, muscovy ducks, a grey wagtail and a tree creeper along with two flocks of Canada Geese that were feeding in fields beside the river. Homage was paid to Ted Hughes by Dania who read the poem 'Thrushes', which had been downloaded by Janet, as the larger group gathered close to one of the stone sculptures that feature along the route. In addition to the birdlife and the primroses we found one fungus which Joan identified as an old blushing bracket and we even had a fly-past by a single Red Arrow and a Hercules transport plane! All in all a very satisfactory record for the middle of January. There was time for a cup of tea back in Mytholmroyd before the minibus returned to Bradford with a happy band of BEES.
Stuart
