Monday 26 November 2012

Water, water, everywhere....

A colleague reminded me this morning it was 2 years ago this week that school had closed after heavy snow and we had a very unexpected 3 days at home. 2 years later and this has been replaced by rain although no-one has mentioned Rain Days at school yet.......funny that the A38 was clear at 7.15am this morning and I reached Etwall with no problems at all by 7.30am, the usual time. No water on the dual carriageway although it was amazing to see the fields either side of the A38 between south and north Burton turn offs and towards turn off to Repton and Etwall were completedly immersed.

Many of the kids who live around Repton and Willington did not make it in today and several staff were late but the rest of us managed a pretty normal day and appreciated smaller classes! Emails were sent out this afternoon about the buses and local roads so I decided to leave with the kids at 3.25pm.
The A38, at first, appeared to very quiet and empty and no problems until lights ahead showed stationery traffic around Clay Mills turnoff. The river had completely burst its banks during the day and flowed across the carriageway on both sides making it rather an exciting experience once we all realised it was only about 12-15 cms deep and passable.

 In 5 years of travelling up and down the A38 every day, I have never experienced this before.

 Note the fuel guage!
 
I was quite relieved to get home and filled up ready to use the 4 wheel again tomorrow, something I am very grateful for in this weather. In the meantime, am keeping half an ear open for the Telephone Tree to kick in and a possible Rain Day.........
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Sunday 25 November 2012

A wet, muddy ramble around Fradley Junction

Same walk as nearly a year ago, coincidentally, but rather different vistas opened up to us with all the rain in the past few days. Duly armed with Fradley Walks map No 3 we set off in several layers and sunglasses. Beautiful morning, chilly but very bright sunshine.

The walk meanders along the towpath south for about 2 miles and once we had left the canalside pub, cafe and boatyard area, we saw hardly anyone. A few hardy souls tending their boats, one passed us with a cheery morning but apart from that we were in isolation. There were points when it seemed hard to see where the tow path ended and the canal started as the water level was so high.
 



Kings Bromley Marina
 

 
Once we had left the towpath there was some road walking for about a mile or so and this is where we saw some wondrous sites in the fields, streams and brooks had completely burst their banks and flooded fields on either sides with cars valiantly driving too fast through flooded sideroads, determined to reach their Sunday lunch destination, no doubt.
 

 Flooded asparagus field
The last roses of the year
 
 
The walk continued down a farm track, over stiles and through very muddy fields.We came across a broken wooden bridge which has deteriorated in the past year and not been repaired. We managed to get across although the dog needed a little persuasion!
 
We passed Alrewas Hayes, a beautiful farmhouse and now hotel, not far from the Junction.
Just past the hotel we walked diagonally though a bamboo field, same as last year and still perplexed as to why it is grown there.
 
The walk ended soon after wading through the nature reserve set back from the canal and arriving out through the caravan park. It would seem churlish, having parked at the pub, not to go in and use the facilities. Thirst quenched and pork bap consumed, we wended our way home as the light seemed to be fading by 2pm. A delightful way to spend a few hours.