Our big walk had to be delayed yesterday due to the morning starting off quite cool and with damp drizzle in the air.
The sun eventually came out after we helped Dad eat a hot sausage sandwich for lunch.
Fuelled up and ready to get some exercise we headed to Kingstown to the north of the city.
Blossom
The recent sunshine and unseasonal warm temperatures has allowed a lot of blossom to open on the trees.
White seemed to be the colour in vogue today as we walked through the Blackthorn bushes, apple and plum trees. Against the slightly dark blue sky the small flowers contrasted really well and dad was able to get some really good photographs.
The bees were out in force gathering some much needed early nectar to make lots of yummy honey.
Mum also noticed a couple of clumps of daffodils that already seem to be starting go past their best. A short season this year for many of them.
Nearby a number of rabbits were in the open enjoying some mid afternoon grass.
They did not seem at all bothered as we sneaked up on them to get a picture.
Charlie gave the game away when he pulled on his lead and the ratchet in the handle engaged with a loud crack.
Beasts
Our walk started from the middle of the Kingstown Industrial Estate and was to go as far as the Aero plant nurseries just beyond the old 14MU military base.
Mum needed some bits and bobs for the garden so with one outing we could get a good walk and mum could go shopping.
Our path took us under the now opened Carlisle relief road.
You may remember almost a year ago that that we spotted a couple of mesh screens positioned either side of an underpass.
Back then they had only just been installed but now they have big holes in them. A discussion then started as to what was making the holes.
Mum wondered if the spray from grit lorries had punctured the net. Whilst dad suggested, give the size of one of the holes, that Dumbo had been taking flying lessons and misjudged things as he came into land.
Bugs
The overflow ponds built at the sides of the new road are now starting to look part of the landscape.
Reeds and trees are beginning to take hold around the outer margins and the air is filled with the sounds of birds.
Charlie wanted to inspect the water close up but mum decided that this would not be a good thing to do as he could scare away the beetles, bugs, frogs and newts who were trying to set up home for the summer.
As the path faded, near to the entrance to the former military base, we had to stay on short leads as we walked along the edge of the road towards the garden nursery about 0.5 miles away.
Thankfully the road is quite quiet so we were in little danger of being squished, but it is such a shame that many of our roads do not have pavements or even suitable grass verges.
Shopping done, we returned back the way we had come, guzzling water from the drinks bottle every few hundred metres.
Until next time
Buster and Charlie