Dawn on the River Wye

Even though I was very tired after all the driving and walking of yesterday, I didn't sleep all that well. I woke in the night to go to the bathroom, and looked out of the window to see the almost full moon, lighting up the mist along the valley. So, as the first light of dawn crept into the sky I got up, waking Pete in the process. As breakfast wasn't served till eight we drove to Bridge Soller and watched the sun rise over the River Wye, which was wreathed in mist. It was only 2C, and there was a grass frost, the first of the year. Magical...

The rest of the day was almost as good. We had a morning walk to the top of Hergest Ridge, giving wonderful views over Herefordshire and into Powys. This was followed by a walk round The Weir, a National Trust property next to the River Wye. From there we headed north to the Brockhampton Estate, where we had another hilly walk, before picking three kilos of damsons from their orchard and having a lightning tour of the house.

We arrived home at 8pm, after a three hour journey, with some pretty heavy traffic round Worcester, on the M5 and on the junction between the M6 and A14. The tedium of this last queue was relieved somewhat by watching a soft apricot supermoon rise gently through the low clouds. Thankfully Chris had prepared a tasty chilli for us - now it's definitely time for bed!