1st May 2021
I started out early in the morning so I could miss the rain forecast for later on in the afternoon. Even though the sun was shining, it was a chilly start with a frost on the ground. Yes the river was cold too!
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| Black Torrington Bridge bathed in the eary morning sun |
I wasn't prepared for the stony riverbed covered in silt and algae - this made walking the river very slow going and I fell over a couple of times.
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| The view downstream from Black Torrington Bridge. |
Halfway through my walk I had already spotted trout fry - my first sighting of fish in the river, squirrels and loads of water boatmen. I stopped for a rest and was joined by some sheep taking a drink from the river. Sweet Chestnut trees were in leaf, but on this side of the river the silver birch, planted in rows, had yet to show any green. Just a few metres down the river though birch trees in the same forest were well on their way, what a difference the change in orientation to the Sun!
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| An inquisitive sheep! |
The river here is so peaceful, the sounds are the rippling water, and birdsong interspersed with bleating lambs. A nearby woodpecker was making its presence known and after scouring the trees for a while I spotted it high up, perched at an angle on the barch of a tree.
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| An old barn on the river. |
Eventually the peace was shattered by the sound of a car, and I knew I was near the end of my river walk. But what a treat at Sheepwash Bridge! Here dippers are diving and playing around amongst other birds swooping low over the river.
