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Monday, October 4, 2010

A rainy Sunday walk

Hubby was in a self-righteous mood with a self-righteous air to match, as he went about the house tidying things away. I'd been doing that all week and decided I needed to get out for a dose of fresh air, so off I went and left him to it, hee-hee. :) The rain was pelting down but it wasn't icy cold, in fact it was refreshing.


Leaving the town behind

This is a view looking back towards the small town of Willington. I was heading towards the village of Hunwick on what used to be the railway line and is now a popular path used by walkers, cyclists, horse riders and runners.
As I walked along the old railway line I thought of what it must have been like when trains ran along the route and of all the people who journeyed here. At dusk it can be quite eerie. My daughter sometimes claims to hear the sound of a distant train - childish imagination perhaps?

The old railway station at Hunwick

This building used to be the railway station serving Hunwick, and is now somebody's lovely home. It doesn't appear to have changed that much though, and it's quite easy to imagine travellers waiting on the platform for the train to arrive. My dad and his brothers would have boarded the train here on their trips to Durham and Bishop Auckland, as his family belonged to Hunwick after moving from Ireshopeburn in Weardale.


The Oak Tree at Rough Lea Farm, Hunwick

Just off the railway line is Rough Lea Farm. My dad's best friend lived here when he was a child and it was a working farm then. They used to climb this tree which is hundreds of years old. Rough Lea Farm no longer belongs to that family as they have all passed on and it's since been transformed into a very posh residence, but it's lovely to see the big oak tree still there. Children are seemingly still enjoying it as there's a rope ladder hanging from one of its branches.



Back down at the old railway path, I saw lots of different kinds of fungi. I don't know what kind these are but they looked so beautiful I just had to take a photo of them.



Despite the pouring rain - or maybe because of it - I really enjoyed my walk. There weren't many people about except for two cyclists and some fishermen as I walked back home by the river. Glancing up at the grey sky two geese flew overhead, and a Jack Russell dog was barking as it playfully jumped in and out of the river. That wouldn't please the people fishing!
Usually when I go out walking I powerwalk, but today I just wanted to relax and take my time. I wanted to see things I usually miss, like some hazelnuts lying on the ground - now on my kitchen window-sill waiting to be planted. Besides, the longer I took the more industrious hubby would be at home and he might even have the dinner ready for me on my return. :)

10 comments:

  1. A lush account of your walk in the rain on Sunday. I can see why your father used to climb the Oak tree, what a majestic specimen. You should always take in everything around you when you are out, even if you are powerwalking. You don't know what you might miss, and you can always go back for a closer look later.
    I struggle with fungi I.D. but i think you will find that single image is a Fly Agaric.
    Hope you enjoyed your lunch1
    John

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  2. These are such beautiful photos Lesley, what a picturesque and lovely place to walk and live...so nice that the oak tree still survives, what memories it would have.
    I love looking at old buildings through photographs and when I visit older towns and suburbs here as there is nothing very old where I live. I do have some beautful places to walk, the vegetation and trees as you can imagine are entirely different to the beautiful oak trees and other species of your forests but we do have many beautful trees; I always come home with some kind of seed pod or unusual decorative twig which has fallen to the ground.
    I do hope that dinner was waiting for you on your return home. :D xoxoxo ♡

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  3. The Fungi are Fly Agaric, young and mature. Also known as the sacred mushroom. It is poisonous but was eaten by Viking raiders before raiding, raping and pillaging. It is hallucinogenic. It is also used as an insecticide so all in all it has much going for it. Beauty, a practical use and a recreational one.

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  4. Hi John. Yes, I'm going to make a point of doing more leisurely walking from now on. The reason I like powerwalking though is that it lets my mind wander - daydreaming while walking.

    Both you and Adrian have agreed on the identification of the fungi. Thank you.

    Lunch was nearly ready for me coming home after which we settled down to watch a Catherine Cookson dramatisation on the telly, one we'd seen about four times but what the heck. :)

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  5. Hi Dianne. :) Oh it would be wonderful if the old tree could tell us its history, wouldn't it! It would probably have a bit of a moan at all the kids throughout the ages that have swung from its branches. :O)

    Dinner was lovely Dianne. :D

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  6. Hi Adrian. Thank you for the information on the fungi. Hunwick was named after the viking family 'Hunas' - they must have run amok there with all those hallucinogenic fungi! I'm happy just to photograph them now - my mind-altering days are long gone. :D

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  7. I've got the UK's oldest original stream track near me. Long gone now but a very popular walking trail thankfully!

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  8. Another beautiful and fascinating post! I love the old railroad station turned residence. And the oak tree is so...majestic.

    That is the most interesting fungi I have ever seen. It doesn't even look real. Thanks to Adrian for the info - amazing!

    By the way, I have a little something over at my place for you!

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  9. Hi Gf. It's a shame all the rural lines were closed but, as you say, at least they provide lots of beautiful walking trails.

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  10. The fungi looks perfect, doesn't it. Just before that though, I saw one with what looked to be a few nibbles taken out of it..... I can imagine the intoxicated frolicking mice hiding from me.

    You have something for me? Ooooo, I'm over to yours now. :D

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