Noticeably so – I walked this way three weeks ago, when the ground was sodden. Today the footpath across the field was walkable, and had been walked (the footprints were mostly those of deer). Early spring – the air’s cool, the sunshine’s warm – wonderful!

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A fresh spring afternoon – cool air with warm sunshine, blue sky and puffy white clouds. It’s a great start to the season – let’s hope it lasts!

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A wander on a warm and fine spring afternoon. Ned’s lane is muddy, as is the lane down past Round Hill, but at least the surfaced road is (mostly) fit to walk on (don’t fall in the potholes!).
From tomorrow, the days will be longer than the nights for the next six months…

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There’s no connection! It just happens to be the 17th of March – which means the vernal equinox is only a few days away. It’s a fine spring afternoon, with bright warm sunshine and some heavy cloud, which disperses as the day progresses. It’s very pleasant quiet country, down below the Wenlock Edge.

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On the whole, it’s a pleasant early-spring afternoon – the sun, when it shines, is warm. There are one or two showers about though. I felt a few drops, and began to wonder if I was going to get wet, but it soon passed. Later, approaching the woods along the old railway track, there must have been a few drops blowing in the breeze, as there was a faint rainbow. Sadly, the crock of gold was on the other side of the river…

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Not exactly… (aren’t they supposed to lead to a bad end?) The paths really aren’t fit for walking – I’ll stay on the surfaced lane, itself wet and muddy, with an assortment of potholes. I wouldn’t want to drive along these lanes! There’s no shortage of the pale yellow flowers now, and one or two other shades are starting to appear – there are a few violets, and – what’s this? I’ll have to look it up when I get home. Apparently it’s toothwort, a pale parasite, not the commonest of plants.

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A very pleasant stroll, a little under five miles, between Ironbridge (bridge 1) and Coalport Bridge (2), calling in at the youth hostel for coffee and cake (yes, it’s open! Must be spring!) before crossing the Jackfield footbridge (3) and the new free bridge (4) to return to the start.

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