Well now, where to start?!
After our lovely visit to the Lake District, we decided, next day, to stay in Middleton, (Middelton-in Teesdale, is a small market town, in County Durham. It is situated, on the north side of Teesdale, between Eggleston, and Newbiggin, a few miles, to the north-west of Barnard Castle).
And go for a walk along the gorgeous river Tees. This goes through her Majesty's estate of Strathmore.
The royal family come here, in the shooting season, and there is a tin hut on the moor, where they carry out, for want of a better word "ablutions".... ;-)
At this time of the year, the trees lining the river just drip with gold and red! If one is lucky, one may see a salmon or two, en-route up the river, going home to spawn. And there are usually plenty of different types of ducks, dabblers as well as the odd diver.
Blossom, (who had been rather naughty, and spent all night chatting to the tawny owls), was really tired, so she decided to stay home, and nap in the tent!
Clarice and Penny, who had both been sensible, and had gone to bed, were fresh as daisies, and eager to explore! So, they hopped into my bum-bag, DH & I packed nibbles, juice packs, and our water-proofs, and off we went!
As the clucks had not had any breakfast yet, they stopped for a snack on the drystone wall.... well, for the poor wee bugs, hiding in it, that is! They also feasted on lovely red Hawthorn berries, and pecked around in any rotted wood, for juicy morsels...
Penny rather bravely climbed a tree, and was rewarded by a snack of crispy crunchy spiders...
DH & I just feasted our eyes and souls on all the autumnal splendour... it was just us, the rushing sound of the water, the distant baa of sheep, and the song of the wild birds..... sheer unadulterated bliss.... AHHHHH!
As we walked along, we happened upon a tin hut....(the afore mentioned one). Neither DH nor I said anything. We already know what it was.
But suddenly, a dry, and very Scottish sounding Clarice, piped up and said "well, hen (she has taken to calling any female "hen" irrespective of whether they are one or not, since her trip to Scotland!) that there, is the queen's kludgie".... I kid you not!
Poor Penny, who is a genteel cluck, of a sensitive disposition, nearly choked on the fly she was eating!!! She just stared at Clarice, while trying to get her breath!!! Clarice shrugged, and said, "No need to take on so, hen, every body poops!!! There's even a book about it".
After that, there was no mention of bodily functions, as the clucks had spied a mushroom, with tasty slugs on it.
As DH & I were starting get really hungry, we decided to pop into a lovely local public house, Strathmore Arms
www.strathmoregold.co.uk. I had never been here before, but DH had! So much so, the owner recognised him! We were given a lovely warm welcome, by Selina and Anthony! And we tucked into yummy stake, chips and mushrooms! Compliments to the chef!
Selina absolutely loved the clucks! She very kindly allowed them to pose for pics in her lovely quaint pub! They perused the pumps, sat on the very seat where the Royal shooting party sits! And had a lovely time, pecking at stuff, and exploring :) DH & I just relaxed, and rested our feet.
After digesting and cogitating, we packed up the clucks, and walked back to the camp site! The clucks feasted on sloe berries, and then had fun, playing on and under some interesting bracket fungi!
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