Terry Smith Photo Walks

This second walk was to Darden Lough near Otterburn on 2nd November 2008: A steady climb though the
path proved quite difficult in places, (alternating between, non-existent, slippery mud and deep boggy bits - or all 3 !!)

Map: None, I was with someone who knew the way.

Weather: Cool, dry and clear. The lighting, colours and views were superb

At the risk of confusing you I want to show a couple of photographs from another walk before I continue with the Darden
Lough walk. This walk was on 20th July 2008 (the day before I began the 2nd phase of The Cleveland Way)

Alison was born in Sunderland, then County Durham, but moved away with her parents as a young child. She still has
relatives in the area and now married and living in New Jersey in the United States still feels warmly about the area
where she was born. It was through checking out other north eastern websites that she found a one who had a link to
me. She subscribed to my Mailing List in early 2003 and we've been in touch since.

Alison was visiting some relatives in the Sunderland area whilst having a holiday near to High Force, so we were able to
meet up for the first time. We both felt that it wasn't like meeting a stranger as we'd communicated by e-mail quite a
number of times and we had lots to talk about. I was delighted that I was also able to meet her husband George,
brother Peter and sister-in-law Rose. Alison, Rose and myself had a thoroughly enjoyable walk alongside the river Tees
from Low Force to High Force and back.

The three of us were soon to find out the reason some patches of the heather looked brighter than others. It was because it
was being fed by more water, much more water and by the end of the walk all three of us were carrying some of that water
off the moor in our boots....squelch, squelch, squelch.

Here Maureen's luck runs out as she is the last of us to get a boot full of water. Ros carefully picks her way to avoid
another soaking foot.

Since this walk I have now invested in a thermal pair of waterproof, breathable close fitting socks - because it could be a
long wet winter and my boots don't seem as waterproof as they once were.

This glorious weather was most unexpected to me. When I had set off from Durham it had been dull and damp, but the further
north I travelled the better it got.

There was very little sight or sound of upland birds which suprised me. Ros explained that the shooting of game birds in this
area was mostly pheasant and that it was done lower down the hills. The only noise to break the silence was the occasional
Thud - Thud in the distance as large guns were fired on the Otterburn Military ranges.

We have our meal break here. I have brought water an apple and some chewy snack bars, they both produce flasks of coffee,
sandwiches and cakes. They insisted I share their fayre and after refusing politely for ooh nearly 2 seconds I give in. The coffee
warming us up a treat and the cake and sandwiches...well what can I say - this was luxury and very welcome.

On the way back down now before daylight begins to fade. Ros looks for the best way around the large boggy area. I suggest to
her that it would make a very good photo if she were to walk straight across it. But wisely she had no intention of doing that.
Just as well because she'd have easily sunk down in the bog to her knees - mind you it would have made a good photo :-)