on a sunny late August day,
the landscape is as pretty as ever,
The Shropshire Way beckons me to come and explore the old familiar path
along the brook,
crossing stiles and bridges, walking through fields,
through the winding kissing gate,
past the clump of wild thistle in the hedgerow glowing unearthly in late summer sun,
and out into the open,
with a view of the gentle slopes of
Radnor Wood in the distance.
It was a beautiful walk, ( in spite of getting a blister on the heel of my left foot,
because I was wearing Beloved's wellies instead of mine)
because I was wearing Beloved's wellies instead of mine)
except that my four-legged friend and best companion was not by my side to share the pleasure.
What a beautiful walk. I love to see the views from where you are. Perhaps I'll get down that way next month - I'll certainly try!
ReplyDeleteWow, I don't think I have ever seen the country side looking so green. What a lovely area and some great photos. Sorry about the blister! Take care Diane
ReplyDeleteI have never heard the term, 'kissing gate,' before. Impeccable photos, Friko.
ReplyDeleteA walk in such beautiful surroundings must certainly feel good and soothing, even though you are understandably sad that your old four-legged companion won't ever again walk there with you.
ReplyDeleteI love the hedgerows that divide the fields. Much nicer than the barbed wire that gets used over here. I love that they still maintain all the old walking paths from village to village through the fields. If I was younger, without family to speak of, in this day and age, I might think about leaving the US.
ReplyDeleteOh, my, so lovely, and how much it makes me long to return and perhaps even walk this very walk with you.
ReplyDeleteYour photographs beautifully illustrate your walk, your words, your sense of loss without Benno by your side. That open field with the woods beyond captures the feeling so very well.
ReplyDeleteI think you're wrong Friko, Benno was right there by your side :-) he will always be there. Let me just have this one little indulgence. It looks such a wonderful walk. Those compeed blister patches are great. Enjoy this changing season, it won't last long.
ReplyDeleteDi
xxxxx
This is great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful walk - and it sounds as if Benno was there in spirit with you. I cannot get over how green and wonderful everything still is - some slight compensation for the dismal weather nearly all summer.
ReplyDeleteThe first walks without one's four-legged companion are always nostalgic. Happy memories, though. As for kissing gates, some of our dogs have adapted to them with no problem while others have sought other ways through, under, over . . .
ReplyDeleteThat first photo with the bright green fields criss-crossed with dark rows of bush and trees is stunning. What a glorious place to walk and to remember your sweet companion.
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking! The sheep photo ... oh my goodness!
ReplyDeleteDecades ago, a friend gave me some thistle seeds she'd bought at an airport in Europe. Neither of us knew what we were planting. They came up fine and I kept waiting and waiting for them to start looking pretty. They were waist-high and still looked like weeds. So you're saying they WERE weeds? :) It looks lovely in the hedgerow.
Oh Friko, this is sheer poetry! It's definitely a walk to remember, I say.
ReplyDeleteOne can sit and gaze at the first picture for hours, and that kind of green just gets into the eyes. The stiles, the hedgerows and of course the rolling countryside, all, very strongly, remind me of Austen's novels. Thank you for sharing such beauty.
What stunning photo's and scenery to walk through, so sorry for the loss of Benno, happy to see you are still able to enjoy your walks.
ReplyDeleteI immediately remembered Benno at the beginning of your walk. I miss my Max too. He was so incapacitated by the end of his life, I bought a little dog stroller to roll him along the old bike path which is not nearly as beautiful as your walk. We sprinkled his ashes on my daughter's farm in the woods on her property. I like to think his spirit roams there free. Dianne
ReplyDeleteThe first few times you're always looking down for your friend, aren't you?
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful walk and it allows you to think of him and his pleasure in being out with you.
Your missing companion was with you in spirit. Every turn I am sure you saw him just ahead of you. I cannot imagine such beautiful countryside. You are blessed.
ReplyDeleteGasp. That is what I did when I saw the top photo. Such beauty is a blessing to behold. I was reminded of a walk I once took with a friend in Wales as I looked at your photos. That is when I saw my first kissing gate. All this beauty, but I understand the hollow feel of it when that dear canine friend is not by your side. It is good you went out anyway.
ReplyDeleteSuch an inspiring human/land collaboration to walk through! The work of centuries, countless lifetimes. . . . truly inspiring of awe. But I must correct you about one thing, wise friend; you have missed the point that your companion was - and will ever be - with you in such moments. Our hearts also are with you. . . thanks for bringing us along.
ReplyDeleteSincere Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^=
> < } } ( ° >
Lovely shots of a beautiful county Friko - you'll miss him awhile yet I fear.
ReplyDeletedie Landschaft ist wunderschön, die Bilder beschreiben diese auf eine wunderbare Weise und fast hat man das Gefühl, als würde man Dich tatsächlich begleiten. Die ersten Spaziergänge ohne Benno sind sicherlich sehr schwer, ich selbst hatte grosse Angst davor, die gleichen Wege ohne meine verstorbene Hündin zu gehen und ich muss zugeben, dass ich einige Wochen nicht vor die Tür ging ... Du bist tapferer als ich!
ReplyDeleteDir liebe Grüsse und ich melde mich in etwa einer Woche ganz bestimmt (dann habe ich nämlich auch Ferien...! Hurra!)
Renée
wow thanks for taking us with you...your land is def gorgeous...would love to explore it some more....sorry on missing your friend....that is tough : (
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful countryside.. you are so blessed to have these wonderful sights greet you each day. I ache for you.. for how you miss your dear Benno.
ReplyDeleteI too loved that top photo. How I would love to walk there. I miss my Maggie and Laddie on walks here too. Have a nice evening.
ReplyDeleteBalisha
It is lonesome, isn't it, not to have your little friend there to enhance your pleasure. I still miss dogs who passed years ago, so the freshness of your loss is that much more painful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful country though.
It's a long walk to do on your own, and with a blister to boot. The winding kissing gate...what a great name. Did people get caught in the winding and with nothing to do, start kissing?
ReplyDeleteI gasped with longing at your very first picture, Friko - at its absolute beauty. I was wishing I was there. Don't get me wrong - I appreciated the rest, but, those green fields and vistas are breathtaking and a perfect way to spend a Sunday morn. While you miss him so, his tangible presence, I think Benno was walking with you all the way.
ReplyDeleteBei solch einer Umwelt würde ich bestimmt vergessen zu essen und zu trinken, und einfach nur sehen, sehen, sehen. Danke.
ReplyDeleteThere's a bit of aura of unspoken meaning, without Benno. Beautiful place & bittersweet walk. ~Mary
ReplyDeleteIt really is stunning countryside. So fertile, green and lush. No Benno; an empty space as you bravely undertake this beautiful walk and so graciously share its images with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you Friko.
x
and to think you were thinking of moving away
ReplyDeletebah! banish those thoughts forever...what a restorative place
..even with blisters and a shadow companion
....
The word "pastoral" leaps to mind when seeing your stiles, hills, and grazing livestock. To lose a constant and loyal canine companion is a grief that will stay with you for a long, long time. Mine has been gone 7 years, and I still miss her.
ReplyDeleteFriko, how I would love to walk through this landscape. I have no wellies, but am a pretty good long distance walker (urban sidewalk division!)
ReplyDeleteI just yearn to see that open sky. Thank you for giving us a sampling.
xo
A walk to soothe the soul. Even if it hurt your feet. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe green in that first picture is stunning!!
Have a wonderful week! :)
Thank you for sharing the pleasure (even the blister!) with us.
ReplyDeleteYour surroundings are so beautiful and so open – I mean you don’t have a jungle of trees as we do here. Your first picture of the green hills is so pleasing to the eyes – it looks like an authentic English summer.
ReplyDeleteOh. what a beautiful walk! That first picture is breath-taking!
ReplyDeleteWow - there is nothing as lovely as the lush English hills!
ReplyDeleteAll the continual rainfall you had this summer is so evident in the lush green growth! Your photos continue to mesmerize me - and I understand the absence of your longtime companion...on our way home from Alaska now and as planned, stopped at our favorite shoreline of Lake Kluane in the Yukon...our oldest sheltie always loved that spot on each trip. The emptiness of her not being with us this time is strongly felt. It will take time...
ReplyDeleteA most delightful walk and the scenery is just stunning.
ReplyDeleteShropshire really does have the Wow! factor , doesn't it .
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of lovely scenery Friko - Dave
ReplyDeleteBlisters and missing a four-legged friend... and still you saw the beauty. Sounds like a healing walk.
ReplyDeleteFrico, it was a nice sunny walk and you feel more optimistic now.
ReplyDeleteI liked the picture where there is a slope and the Radnor Wood, it's very peaceful.
Dear Friko, thank you for taking me with you on this lovely work. I've never seen a crossing stile close up. The clouded green hills beckon me too. I've always longed for a pair of "wellies"!!!! Peace.
ReplyDeleteI am missing Benno from afar.
ReplyDeleteYour first photo made me gasp with its greeness and sheer beauty.
No doubt he was with you in spirit. I thought of Benno today as I looked into the eye (he only has one) of my old pooch. They are truly kindred spirits. Your photos are achingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing me to join you on this walk.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
countryside
Almost
unbelievable...
Oh, what a spectacularly beautiful view!
ReplyDeleteI'm a little late getting back to this post, Friko, but I enjoyed it immensely. The scene in the first photo is stunning beyond belief! What a magnificent countryside you have, especially on days like the one in which this photo was taken.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you're out walking. I suspect that Benno was there with you in spirit.
One word. Dazzled. Oh, I'd walk all the time!
ReplyDelete