My 3 favourite activities!

Earlybird Sue · #1 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 07:44 AM

Just to say Hello! to everyone - can't believe I've found a forum for my 3 favourite activities - along with bird-watching, of course :-)

Planning a back-packing trip to the Lakes in a couple of weeks - worried about blisters but have invested in new boots and panties.........I mean, socks:-) so hopefully won't repeat the experience of my last back-packing trip...

Also planning a birdy trip to North Norfolk in November - this time hiring a cottage - well, it is November.........:-)

As for cycling........maybe a local trip today!

Looking forward to some friendly chats with you all on here :-)

All the best, Sue

david156 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 08:31 AM

welcome to WAB sue.

Norfolk in November!

Make sure you bring plenty of Jumpers, waterproofs and a wooly hat!

You should get some good birdwatching in though.

David

Pete Collins · #3 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 12:08 PM

Welcome to WAB, Sue!

As David says, be prepared to wrap up warm when you go to Norfolk in November, but I'm sure you'll have a great time bird watching there.

artdemole · #4 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 01:24 PM

Welcome to Wab. Woolly wotsit's all round soon.

Earlybird Sue · #5 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 02:09 PM

Thanks for warm welcomes everyone :-)

Yes, will definitely wrap up warm for Norfolk - November is a good time for birds apparently .........thinking of staying in Wells ???? Would usually chose somewhere more 'remote' but I'm imagining Wells will have places to walk to in the evening........... I've decided against taking my bike :-((

Just come back from lovely bike ride to Dunstable Downs and round back through Totternhoe and Dagnall - you will know all those places, Pete :-) I've often consulted your webpages before and after going on walks local and not so local...

Sue

Pete Collins · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 03:26 PM

Yes, I know those places well Sue!

Dunstable Downs are just a couple of mile from where I live. There are some good nature reserves at Totternhoe, though they are more for flowers and insects rather than birds (but a good spot for Turtle Doves).

I used to enjoy cycling, but I'm afraid I can't anymore because of dodgy knees. I remember cyclying to Hemel Hempstead and back when I was very young.

foxy mars · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 11:26 PM

Welcome to forum Sue. Sure, you will enjoy the forum. Wish I was early bird like you, see them sunrises.

I do get blisters nowadays,(lack of rambling) but use comsped, good stuff.

I afraid after I do (if I do) the Coast to Coast this September, the walking is going to take a long long break. The reason is working Sundays and not having car (no excuses) That I'm going to take up cycle-camping-touring again

Anyway, I have a £800 bike just stuck in the spare bedroom gathering dust, so Scotland or East of England is on the cards next year, taking the binoculars ofcourse.

Earlybird Sue · #8 (**permalink**) 09-08-2010, 08:01 AM

Morning everyone

Not such an earlybird this morning.........mind you, I have walked the dogs already

Pete - every time I go up Dunstable Downs I am overawed by the views. Stupidly I'd forgotten my binoculars in my haste to be out of the house so couldn't have a good look at the distance. There was an air ambulance helicopter landing near the Five Knolls area where a woman had collapsed, then an ordinary ambulance made its way along the footpath to collect her on a stretcher. I was sitting there eating my lunch wondering why all these people were crowding round......Do you know if the hills there have individual names, or are they all just 'Dunstable Downs' - I can't see any names on my OS maps - mind you, they are on the junction of 4 maps....

I saw the Turtle Doves at Totternhoe a few weeks ago - my first sighting. Lovely to see.

Foxy Mars - sorry to hear your bike is gathering dust - isn't it calling to you??

I road Route 1 up the east coast a few years ago, doing bits of the North Sea Cycle Route - is that near you? I've nearly done the UK portion - only Shetland to go - planning to do it next year, get back into cycle-camping. Walking the coast to coast sounds stunning - hope you manage to do it. I'm wondering now if I'll manage the Lakes at the end of the month, what with work commitments

foxy mars · #9 (**permalink**) 09-08-2010, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earlybird Sue

Foxy Mars - sorry to hear your bike is gathering dust - isn't it calling to you??

I road Route 1 up the east coast a few years ago, doing bits of the North Sea Cycle Route - is that near you? I've nearly done the UK portion - only Shetland to go - planning to do it next year, get back into cycle-camping. Walking the coast to coast sounds stunning - hope you manage to do it. I'm wondering now if I'll manage the Lakes at the end of the month, what with work commitments

Yes, indeed the bike is calling me

I cycled part of the North Sea Cycle route some years ago. The first part was the NCN route 1 from Harwich to Middlesbrough in 2002 and that was enjoyable. The second part I did from Newcastle upon Tyne to John O' Groats in 2003, again using the NCN route 1.

The NCN route 1 passed by my door and often see a few cyclists loaded up with the panniers.

I like the idea of cycling the Loch's & Glens and C2C next year.

The Coast to Coast is a stunner of a walk, but I may scrap it in favour of the Cleveland Way. Why! because lack of training and the Cleveland Way is more easy going and I like the coastal stretch. Anyway, I've done the Coast to Coast 5 times now.

Pete Collins · #10 (**permalink**) 09-08-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earlybird Sue

......Do you know if the hills there have individual names, or are they all just 'Dunstable Downs' - I can't see any names on my OS maps - mind you, they are on the junction of 4 maps....

Strictly speaking, Dunstable Downs become Whipsnade Downs a little west of the new visitor centre, extending to Bison Hill (where the road to the zoo is) and parts of Whipsnade Zoo. And parts of Dunstable Downs are actually in the parish of Kensworth, where I live.

The hill sticking out from the northern end of the Downs near Five Knolls is (or was) locally known as "Orange Hill". There used to be a tradition at Easter of rolling oranges down it for children to chase. This was stopped (quite sensibly) because kids were breaking legs and ankles almost every year. To the side of Orange Hill is the deep hollow of Pascomb Pit, the site of a Roman Amphitheatre according to the information board in Dunstable.