Exploring in a strange land

'So how shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?   By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down, there we wept, when we remembered Zion.'

So sang Boney M.  And today, on the second full day of my holiday, I went exploring in a foreign land (okay, I'm still in England, but it's only the second time I've been up here as an adult, and the first time I was brave enough to go for a walk to see where I ended up, and I had no Considerer to come with me!).

Why aye man, they keep sheep in their gardens here like!

I thought I should get a little fresh air, it's been a nice sunny day (despite a few showers) and Rothbury, Northumberland is a lovely little town, so I thought I'd go out and see what I could see.  I had seen a sign for a riverside path whilst driving out of the town, so after walking along the said road and still not finding it, I took a little path by some stone cottages on the way back in and there it was - yippe, here we go, I thought - can't get lost here, I'll just turn round and come back the way I came!

An hour later I'd certainly had my exercise for the day.  GPS didn't kick in for a while, but Runtastic definitely told me I'd done at least 4.3km in about an hour.  Later in the week, if the weather permits and she's up for it, I might even convince Mother to come along for a little walk (it's fairly flat, and there are benches and seats along the way to have a little sit down).

It was fairly quiet, and it was lovely to just listen to the river babbling by, watch the butterflies and birds, and just have some peace.  At one point, in true explorer fashion, I took the 'wild' path off the beaten track down to the river (although it was obviously a REAL path and had been trodden) and marvelled at the nice scenery, and thought how I'd better not get too close and end up in a river, again!

Alas, I got to a gate which seemed to be chained, the other side of which was only a boring tarmacked road, so back I turned and retraced my steps.  Once back in the town I took a little detour through a lovely little church yard which my Mum thought her Uncle may be buried in, but all I could see were very old gravestones, no newer ones, so that will require some further investigating!  This is the church which has the bells marking every quarter hour, 24/7, which is lovely, and once I'm asleep doesn't wake me up, but I am really noticing when trying to nod off to sleep!

It plays Brownie Bells don't you know: 1/4: oh Lord our God, 1/2:thy children call, 3/4 Grant us thy Peace, on the hour: and bless us all - chime, chime chime

 Tomorrow I'm hoping to venture into Newcastle, so that will be some urban exploring - more news of that then!