Norham - Horncliffe - Union Bridge and back.

Weather

Evelyn - recovering from sinus/throat trouble

Lack of car park in Norham - a village that time forgot. The butcher was 'A purveyor of meat and fine wines and pickles'. GG threatened to mince. There was a door on the first floor of a house opening on to nothing. Ashley was late because he forgot his coat and Carol was not well - 45 minutes late.

Yet again it was very clarty, and very slippy especially on steps. Farmers had ploughed up the public footpaths. The river was incredibly interesting with lots of wildlife. Ron retrieved Beth's glove from the riverside. Nice pub in Horncliffe, 'The Fishermen', and everyone was led in by Beth. Lunch at Union Bridge, the oldest surviving chain suspension bridge in Britain. George B crossed over the border to Scotland. Illegal immigrants escaping from Scotland, carrying a prayer mat and digital cameras.

Lots of gorgeous gorges. Flowering nettles. A person on horseback in Scotland. No other walkers. Beautiful holly bush, winter jasmine, and dead giant hogweed. There were apples, and Julie ate one. It was dark by the end of the walk. GG commented "A very pleasant river walk".

Wildlife: On the way there was some dead wildlife: badger, fox, pheasants, and some live kestrels hovering. On the walk: thousands of geese (17 skeins), mallards, gooseanders, redshanks, herons, oystercatchers, goldeneye, buzzards, shags, pheasants being harrassed by seagulls, swan fly-past (the swans considerately veered past so as not to bomb us), great tits, blue tits, owls screeching in the forest, wrens. Deer, hares. thirteen swans taking off together, lone cow (called Ash), golden labrador.

The Cook and Barker. Joined by Evelyn, who was presented with a poinsetia in appreciation for her work as web-master.