New mural by David Puck by the side of the Lee Navigation on the marshes. Next to the older one from street art poet Angry Dan 'All that we've got is this pale blue dot.' Pale blue dot being our earth.
A gorgeous sunny day, frosty cold start but eventually warm in the sunshine. Was awake early at 6 worrying about tiles and plumbers. So wasn't hard to throw warm things on and go marching down to the marshes armed with binoculars. Dave seemed a bit off as we reached the marshes and when enquiring found he was narked as we'd been 'route marching'. And there was I thinking he was setting the fast pace. How we laughed...
Dave grabbed a coffee and we shared a pastel de nata from the stall at the bottom of Coppermill Lane. Wandered under the bridge and straight onto the marshes proper. Don't normally go on them as I'm on my bike. We walked directly into the low sun, with the odd train passing by, high grasses and teasels back-lit. Started to get quite overgrown and boggy so headed towards the more open ground.
This was even boggier and we enjoyed watching the crows picking up the pieces of ice and eating them. Saw a couple of stonechats again bobbing up and down among the grasses. Ended up by the canal and walked back towards the Riverside café. No more birdlife other than noisy sparrows.
Breakfast outside the café - eggs Royale for Dave and their tasty veggie breakfast for me. Busy with other walkers, runners, cyclists and rowers.
Walked on to the wetlands and spent a nice hour ambling along the road parallel to the main path I normally cycle on. Highlight was the two peregrine falcons perched at the top of the pylon by the bottom. Other than that only the odd cormorant, grebes, and tufted ducks on the water. Towards the end, caught a pretty little wren though. Cake and tea at the engine house café again sitting outside backs against a warm brick wall, sun full on our faces. Dave had a robin come and eat crumbs from the chair next to him while I went to the loo.
Bus home. Made a big ribollata for Dave's lunches and looked up tiles. Read. Exotic mushrooms with toast planned for supper.
Well that was a wonderful healthy & energetic Sunday…I feel very ashamed that I have just lolled by the fire all day. I would have enjoyed your day better I feel once I had dragged myself out that is!
This is quite a statement, glad you explained about the blue dot!
This is quite a statement, glad you explained about the blue dot!