After all the bangs and pops from fireworks last night I thought I should go for a leisurely walk around Dalston this morning for some fresh air and sniffs.
Situated to the west of the City of Carlisle, this growing village is only a short drive from home and ideal for a morning jaunt.
Autumn is well underway with many tall trees almost bare of leaves and hedgerows full of golden colours.
Littering the paths, waterways and roads the slippery decaying leaves make quite a mess and stick to my paws like glue.
I would imagine that for street cleaners this time of year is one of their busiest as they try to keep thoroughfares safe.
Cleaning up
One thing I did notice on my visit this time was how full of silt and other debris one of the steams in the village has become.
Running parallel to the River Caldew the small diversion to facilitate what I think was a factory mill race now features tree logs and the obligatory discarded drink cans.
No doubt a haven for wildlife, the slow moving beck looks very close in places to overflowing and could do with a bit of care and attention.
Thick sandy mud covers the floor whilst fallen leaves float like small boats in the slow moving current.
After recent rain the space under one of the bridges appears very restricted and could possibly become easily blocked in bad weather.
Research on the web does not indicate who is responsible for the waterway and maybe this is why it looks a bit unkept.
I will keep an eye on this over the coming months and see if anything is done to improve the area which, by the way, is great for paddling in during the summer.
Until next time
Licks and wags
Charlie