The Daily Circuit - a photo on Flickriver

The Daily Circuit

            At lunchtime today, Ali and I sat on a tree stump not far from here at the edge of the wood, our faces gently warmed by the weak January sun.  You know those still and sunny days that you sometimes steal in the winter time when you bask with your eyes closed for a moment or two and dream of summer?  It was one of those.  For a while we sat and talked of life and the plans we have for the future.  Recently the main topic of discussion has been whether we buy a motorhome later this year or get an empty van and convert it into a cottage on wheels so that we can take to the road and see the world.  We remarked on how peaceful it was to be here on a Friday when we had the wood completely to ourselves.  It's not exactly Piccadilly Circus at the weekend you understand, but on a day like this in those brief minutes we could pretend the woodland was our own.  

We could have sat there all afternoon but of course it couldn't last.  That old enemy of time was against us once more.
One of us had to be back at work for a meeting while the other had an appointment with the sofa and an episode of "A Place in the Sun," so reluctantly we lifted ourselves from the tree stump and continued on the circuit we complete almost every day, whatever the weather brings.  Through puddles and mud we wander in silence, stopping at favourite spots to refresh that view so that we can carry it home in our minds.  It's not a walk full of stunning scenery, but the route brings a sense of calm as we stroll through the woodlands and exchange hellos with the very few people we see.  Three quarters of the way round, we pass this spot with the view of the remaining engine house from Killifreth Mine, just before the muddy mile that leads towards Scorrier Wood.  I like this spot because it's where the walkers separate from those who arrived here by car.

This picture was taken a few weeks ago when January was still brand new and the latest lockdown was even newer.  It was one of those casual shots you think nothing of when you take it, but on reflection I rather liked the late afternoon winter mood it caught. On the still cold day the remaining dead leaves hung brown and wrinkled on the branches in the woods, yet the first new catkins and buds were already in evidence among them.  We dropped a stone down an old mineshaft and counted four seconds.  Or was it five?  I tried to remember a formula from A level maths all those years ago and fancied I'd calculated the depth of the shaft.  Ali remarked that we didn't know how lucky we were to have this space so close to home but I disagreed.  I'm all too aware how fortunate we are - I reflect on it all the time.  

Tomorrow is Saturday, and even though rain is forecast we'll put on our waterproofs and go further along the trail, to where we can watch the stream run towards the Carnon Valley further down the trail.  We'll watch the buzzards circle over the valley in their search for prey and we'll say hello to the horses in the neighbouring fields.  One day we'll be able to return to the coast, but for now we can happily lose our afternoons around here.

Have a good weekend all.

Taken in: UK / England / St. Day / Scorrier (show map)

Taken on: January 9, 2021

Tags:

Killifreth

Engine House

Tin mine

Cornwall

Unity Wood

winter

January

outdoor

stroll

trees

Kernow

Scorrier

Redruth

Building

heritage

West Country

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Sets appears in: • Unity Woods

Groups appears in: • Amateurs • Cornwall Flickr Users more » • Flickr Social Club • Photography Week • Flickr Social • Flickr Photo Unlimited (No People) « less

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