2 Jan - Draycote Water - 994 miles to go

I have started my walking adventure with a trip around Draycote Water (starting at SP 446 702). I parked by the phone box in Draycote village, and walked around the reservoir, which is a neat 5 miles circuit, and the extra bit from the village adds another mile. Six miles! I'm marginally ahead of schedule.

Lane leading from Draycote village to the reservoir

Looking south-east across the reservoir

Quite enjoyed the walk. There were many people there, and walking past the individuals, pairs and bunches of people, was like tuning across a radio dial, catching only snatches of conversation:

"...  that's when I was at school, so long ago  ...", "...  three thousand pounds, he said, ridiculous  ...", "...  just over there, would you believe it, ha ha  ...", "...  using the breaks on your bicycle is good too  ...", "...  Theresa was saying she is just starting school  ...", "...  it depends on the weather, Rodger, if it is windy absolutely nobody is to go on the roof  ...", "...  it's just under five miles around  ..." 

There were couples, old and young, holding hands. Small groups of friends, the majority older people, walking together. For some it looked a chore, for others a pleasure. There were single people - like myself - many looking serious and earnest in their striding, as did all the joggers and the old man 'walking' on roller blades with walking poles. The most serious of all were, of course, the birdwatchers, every one in several layers of camouflage green, with their expensive roof prism binoculars and spotting scopes, and with tripods slung across their backs. About one in twenty walkers said hello as they passed. If I said hello, most spoke or nodded back, while others gave puzzled glares as if I'd asked them to spare me a pound.

Spot the birdwatcher

So, that was walk number one. 6.0 miles, averaging 3⅓ miles per hour, 994.0 miles to go.

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