Saturday, May 09, 2020

Socially distanced tea and cake

Today we changed up our walk routine.

Instead of our usual trot (the word "trot" is used here for effect only - no actual trotting involved) we decided to walk over to the next village and see our best friends. We warned them in advance we were coming and arranged for a socially distanced cup of the once we arrived.

Departing the estate where we live, we cross the normally busy A4231 Barry Docks Link Road down into Gilbert Lane. This single track road leads immediately into the surrounding countryside, but I think I can only ever recall walking down it once in the 15 years we've lived here.  There's a barrier across the road shortly after passing a couple of houses to prevent it being used as a rat run as it really only leads to one farm, but could be used as a shortcut between Barry and Dinas Powys.

The early approach into Gilbert Lane
Almost straight away you find yourself in rolling countryside, which ordinarily you don';t see from any of the main roads, and this provides a fascinating new perspective on the area that's on your doorstep. The photo below is looking across the fields towards Sully and the Seven estuary.

Looking south towards Sully
Even though we left at about 9.45am, it was already warn, and as the road descended into the trees the shade was welcome, although the bugs and flies attracted by horse droppings was less so. It was surprising how steep the decline was, the local hilliness (is that a word?) being another thing that you wouldn't normally appreciate in the car.

Descending in the shade
As the road began to flatten out we entered the sun again. Overhead we watched a buzzard being harangued by a couple of crows, and just before the track case to junction with Argae Lane and Westra, a rabbit hopped out of the hedgerow clearly not expecting anybody or anything else to be there. He quickly high-tailed it back into the hedge. Walking on down the Westa, past the boarding kennels we spied several variants of sheep in the adjacent fields.

Sheep off Westra

Footpath across the fields towards StAndrews Major - one for another day

More sheep, but different colour!
Further along the road we started to encounter the dwellings at Westra, just outside Dinas Powys. The houses along here are mostly big, and no doubt if they were on the market now, very expensive. There are some absolute crackers here, in a lovely location - handy for the village, but in effect, in the country.

The hill up the Westra towards Dinas Powys Common
Passing the houses, we came to a stone stile that marks the entrance to Dinas Powys Common. A large expanse of common ground, it's inhabited by dog walkers, walkers, horse-riders, rugby and of course cricket. It's the spiritual home of my cricket club Dinas Powys CC, the club having played on the common for over 130 years. These days (and probably at any time) it's not in good enough nick to house 1st or 2nd XI cricket which gets played at Parc Bryn y Don at the bottom of Dinas Powys, but it's still host to our 3rd XI and Sundays, midweek and junior games.

The stone stile onto Dinas Powys Common
Walking across the common we descended down to our friends house on the far edge. It felt really odd not only seeing them in person, but not being able to hug and shake hands. We dutifully observed social distancing for an hour or so on their patio whilst having a cuppa and a slice (or two) of cake (which were put down so we could go and pick it up rather then it being handed to us!).

It was a lovely way to spend a morning catching up, and after we left we retraced our steps. There were a couple of alternate routes we could have taken at times, but we'll leave that for another day. All in all, it was a perfectly splendid morning, and ideal for making you feel good in these uncertain times.

Looking back across the common. Cricket pitch in the foreground, Dinas Powys Tennis Club centre right.
Our route 

Until tomorrow....

#isolationlife
#stayhomesavelives

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