I’ve contented myself with mainly local walks for the last few months, whilst not allowed to drive post-shoulder operation. Hence, my posts have been more mundane than usual. Another week and I’ll be back driving – for good or bad, the cost of fuel will come as a surprise.
However, today I find myself walking up ‘Mile Lane’ again, my usual three-mile walk to go shopping. I don’t need to walk that far to the shops, but they say exercise is good for you. Besides, I’m testing out this week’s idea from the 52 Ways to Walk book’s entry, Walk Hungry. I’ve already done Walking after Eating, which wasn’t conclusive about whether it aided my digestion or lowered my blood sugar. Not a very scientific approach, I’m afraid.
Finishing this morning’s crossword mid-morning, I still hadn’t dressed or eaten. An opportunity to rouse myself and walk hungry. So without further hesitation, I’m out walking. Would it help regulate my fat burning and insulin levels, as some of the book’s science suggests? I would have to walk regularly before breakfast to obtain any benefits, which wouldn’t fit my rather ramshackle lifestyle.
Mile Lane again.
But there are benefits, as I enjoy the ever-changing skies, bright blue one minute and threateningly black the next. We are in a spell of changeable weather; rain is forecast by lunchtime, but it appears to blow over without troubling us. Notice in my photo across the meadows towards the village and St Wilfred’s steeple, the cows are lying down – an old folklore of rain to come. (Late afternoon, we experienced a heavy hail storm!) 
Last week I talked of the Hawthorn blossoming in our hedgerows, and was reminded by Shazza of the abundant Cow Parsley. I’m able to redress that today on Mile Lane, which I have said many times is less than half a mile long. The Cow Parsley is indeed profuse this year. 
Also very prominent in the hedgerow is another white flower, Garlic Mustard. Appropriately named ‘Jack In the Hedge’. The leaves do have a faint garlic smell.
Whilst I’m taking time examining the flora, I notice the flower spikes on the Holly. We are more used to its showy red berries in the autumn and winter, but the flowers are quite complex and often go unnoticed. 
Another strong, sweet scent comes along as I pass a Mountain Ash in full flower. The Rowan, also once called the “witch wiggin tree,” was planted outside homes in ancient times as a protection against evil and witchcraft. They are common in Lancashire; we had a lot of witches. 
With the Bowland Hills in the background, I move on into the park. Diverting to check on the Miyawaki Forest, planted here last year, it’s good to see the native trees have grown significantly this season and are reaching above the paling fence. It will be interesting to see which varieties do best.
The local council is limiting mowing in parts of the park for environmental reasons, resulting in a colourful splash of Buttercups. In amongst them is a young Oak, one of several planted by our active local Environmental Group. Things are looking up for nature, and hopefully, the younger generation will take heed. 
Did you, as a child, hold a buttercup under your pal’s chin to see if they liked butter? A glow appeared like magic. Of course, we all liked butter because the flower petals are highly reflective to attract insects.
After shopping, I reach home – my poached egg tasted that little bit better this morning. Maybe walking hungry is a good idea. Do you have a favourite walk to the shops?
Hunger, as they say, is the best sauce. I can do without breakfast any day but I don’t trust myself to walk with nothing. I’ll find pub at midday and have far too much ham egg and chips to compensate. Such is life.
A pub is better than my poached egg any day.
Lovely spring photos of the countryside. We like to walk down from our house to Whitehaven harbour, have a quick look around the shops, then stop for a drink in our favourite pub by the harbour and then walk back home. That is around 8km.
That sounds like a perfect shopping trip.
Although I live on the edge of countryside and moorland my walk to the shops is either down a main road or through urban streets, neither of which can be called ‘favourite’. I like your view looking down Mile Lane, it looks really nice.
I’m lucky with Mile Lane.
First of all I am not fit to be with, or to perform well physically unless I have at least a modest breakfast. On backpacking trips in the past when having camped it has on occasions been forced upon me only to be accepted as one of the minor disadvanges included with the overall majority of benefits.
I have tried many methods for poaching eggs over the years with mixed results and never settled on a solution that sticks (or doesn’t stick!). That is a pity because for me it is by far the best way to enjoy an egg as a breakfast component or as a snack on toast. Your masterpiece shown above looks perfect, can you share your method with me please?
I have a secret pan.
I thought as much.
I’m afraid I fold quickly without at least a bit of breakfast (and sometimes even with that). That’s a good walk you have to the shops. All the best getting back on the road. I’ve just taxed my little blue car – the price of petrol is the least of it.
I’ve SORNED my Mazda for the time being. Just filled my estate up with diesel ready for the off.
Diesels an eye watering price at the moment. Tax on the Mazda gives me pause every year, but I just can’t part with it.
Must get my MX5 on the road for summer.
I remember the buttercup game, also pulling petals from a daisy chanting “he loves me, he loves me not” I had thought maybe it was just a girl thing.
The tiny forest idea really seems to be catching on, there are several in both Ealing and Hammersmith parks. I have been really surprised by the rate of growth compared to more isolated individual trees.
The innocence of youth. Dandelion clock was another.
Yes I’m watching with interest our ‘forest’ develop, not sure what they are like after say 10 years. Do some species take preference?
It will be interesting to see