Same river, different walk, Worcester: Sunday, 26th March, 2017.

Not the river, just flood water.

We are not following The Heritage Trail today.

We're heading south towards home.

On the banks of the Mighty River Severn.

Three donkeys.

A donkey ready for its close-up and hoping we've got summat edible (or that we are edible).

The donkey whisperer.

Vicky with several branches sprouting out of the top of her noggin and her shoulder.

(Sorry Vic, should have done that better).

Looking south to Waterworks Road and The Pumphouse.

View up river towards the point where we took the photo above.

Mother's Day (a day early), Sandwell Crematorium: Saturday, 25th March, 2017.

BSB Test Day, Donington Park, Wednesday, 22nd March, 2017.

It's 12-noon-ish and we have arrived after a rotten drive up the M42/A42 in the p*ss*ng rain.

It's still raining and it's unlikely to stop anytime soon.

John Hopkins (and a fan).

This is, as far as we can tell, Matt Wigley.

Trouble is, he has a twin brother called Kurt and they both look similar and ride for the same team.

Anyway, he's a nice chap and we delight in telling him that it has been p*ss*ng down all the way here and that the rain is only likely to get worse.

We ask him if he will be testing despite the conditions.

He says, yes, the team has paid to test and test we will!

We wish him good luck and all the best for the season.

There's nothing much happening in The Media Centre but it's proving popular with folk seeking somewhere dry and warm (and steamy).

After drying out we join the queue for the Pit Lane Walk and get damp again.

Folk taking photos on the Pit Lane Walk with gadgets.

Folk enjoying the fact that the Pit Lane Walk is coming to an end.

James Westmoreland (off his 'bike).

Donington in the p*ss*ng rain.

Lovely.

Making the best of things.

Matt (unless it's Kirt) Wigley is true to his word and is out on track testing.

Spectators are hardy souls.

Especially that olde-fella with the umbrella.

He's hardy, him. Well, foolhardy.

James Westmoreland (on his 'bike).

Paddock re-surfacing work goes on despite the weather.

3:15-ish and we're back in the now almost-deserted car park and, guess what? 

It looks as tho' it is going to clear up.

 It doesn't.

We drive down to Tamworth for a quick trip to John Lewis (more rampant consumerism - almost £40), before nipping over to Pat & Graham's in Polesworth for tea and a catch-up.

We leave there at 7:15pm under the twinkling lights of Orions Belt.

Yep, not a cloud in the sky. Brilliant.

A slow walk into town and back, Worcester: Monday, 20th March, 2017.

3:15-ish and Vicky is ready to set out.

We've done an hour's fitness session already so we intend to take things easy this afternoon.

First stop - kingfisher territory.

No kingfishers. Boo!

5:00pm-ish and we're on the way home having purchased many things 

to keep our beloved capitalist consumerist economy healthy.

Olde-fella manages to carry the weight of two bags shock.

Back in kingfisher territory there are still no kingfishers (boo again).

Park life (both Gheluvelt & Croome), Worcs: Thursday, 16th March, 2017.

9:35am precisely.

A kingfisher in Gheluvelt Park.

Whatcha mean, you can't see it?

I'll crop it.

There you go.

Dead obvious now, eh?

Just to the left of dead centre.

That's 28 sightings in 11.5 years.

Of course, all this proves that you only see a kingfisher when you 

only have an improper camera on you.

This early sighting is due to having to get into town early to meet Roger 

who's taking me for a walk around Croome Park.

11:00am-ish.

Arrived at Croome Park and we are appalled to find that a dreaded school party 

is marching upon the main house.

So we immediately go another way (as you do).

All the work of Capability Brown.

Couldn't half do with some sunshine to brighten the sky up.

The main house with party of school kids carefully cropped out.

A different building.

You can't beat a few daffs.

A building, trees, and some cattle.

As above, but without the cattle.

There's a bird hide with several feeding stations.

This is 'The Great Tit Only' one (with a Blue Tit eyeing it up).

So, what do I think of Croome Park.

Very nice. Must return with Victoria. Preferably on a day without blanket cloud cover.

Walked 2.71 miles with Roger, by the way.

5.2 miles by the time I walked home and nearly 8 miles by bedtime. 

Blimey.

Things seen on a river walk (Pt 298,173): Worcester, Monday, 13th March, 2017.

Folk going in-out in-out an' all that.

A tree.

A tennis ball jammed in a hole 20' up another tree.

Wild daffodils.

A Great Tit.

More wild daffs.

The same wild daffs with a willow tree and the river.

Vicky playing games with one of the locals.

Long Tailed Tit in a thorny bush.

A cocker-poo running.

A robin (there's always a robin) but no kingfishers.
No herons either, and only one cormorant (in flight).
Oh well, always tomorrow.