April 2015 – Vergette Gardens

“Lets go for a walk” they said. “It’ll be fun” they said.

If I’m honest going on a hike up the side of a hill is not high on my list of things to do on an Easter Bank Holiday. Said hill often features in Lycra Clad Lovelies Magazine when they’re running a feature on Most Hideous Hill Climbs on a Bike. However I was assured the route we would take would be high on views, low in arduousness and I was promised lunch at the top.

I rather hate to admit it, but they were right, mostly. It started off well as we meandered alongside the river, as it in turn, meandered through the valley.

On one side the river and on the other woodland. It was all very peaceful and really quite floriferous, given how late the season is this year.

Just as I was starting to think how jolly this all was a sudden a thought occurred, we were still, even after several miles, following the river. At some point we were going to have to ascend, and yes my deduction was correct as half a mile later we said goodbye to the river.

So as the Teme turned to the left and we to the right there was a marked change of gradient.

As the slope increased so did my desire to stop and take in the views and examine more closely the flowers and signs of wildlife around me. This was obviously due to my love of all things flora and fauna and absolutely nothing to do with the fact some parts of the walk were steeper than a ski-jump.