Down to the valley we went……

What a beautiful day for a walk ! I opened our back door to this…

Today I was walking with an old friend – by that I don’t mean she’s old, I mean we’ve known each other for forty years or more……oh dear, that’s quite a long time isn’t it? So seeing as we met after we were twenty one 🙈🙈 ….stop it , we’re young at heart and age is just a number , albeit larger than I would like. I digress…so I went walking with my friend Claire who lives in Sheffield . Now I don’t know how many of you know Sheffield? Let me tell you, it is said to be the city of seven hills ( apparently there is dispute about that but I’m not going there) All you need to know Dear Reader, is there is at least one hill and we went down it to get to the Rivelin Valley. Who is paying attention here ?- you have heard that name before – well done! indeed I was walking with Kathleen last week by the Rivelin Reservoir a little further out of Sheffield.

We set off down to the valley along well marked footpaths ….I’d like to say we passed some interesting wildlife but the first thing that caught my eye amongst the allotments was this …

No further comment needed until we passed the name of the path…

First things first – we called at the Rivelin Valley Cafe and paused a while for a hot drink in the beautiful sunshine – a good start! Then we set off eastwards along the River Rivelin out of Sheffield – to my surprise we found a statue of a wooden chair in the middle of the river.

Certainly walking by moving water is relaxing,if not a little noisy, and the smooth passage of water is interrupted at times with man made weirs.

We just kept on going !

It is clear seeing the flow of the river and the power of the water that it played a very big part in Sheffield’s industrial past . Sadly evident by it’s absence now. I remember as a rooky physio ( two years qualified) having decided to move to Sheffield (to follow my dream of becoming a cardiothoracic specialist physiotherapist – and before you ask, I got to Sheffield but no further!!!), talking about it to one of the Doctors who was born and raised there. He said “ Why are you going there, Jane? It’s all coal mines and steel works!” Well not any more but it was the best move I could have made!

We certainly had plenty to test our balance and coordination skills and I’m pleased to report there were no wet feet!

Now I suppose you know the saying “ What goes up must come down?” Well surprisingly the same is true in reverse and what or who goes down , must also come up! And that was us! A long slow climb ( but better than doing our decent via Lover’s Lane in reverse I can assure you !) began….

No more inclines ….but hey underwear seemed the common theme …

Back to Claire’s for a delicious home made vegetable soup with toast and even more delicious home made cream cheese! Spoilt !! Then back home to the DB and Millie …….

Another walk and lovely time spent with a good friend – you can’t beat it ! I leave you with this thought….