Darkness and Light

This week has brought with it a mixture of dark emotion and more tragedy. My amazingly fit and healthy 87 year old grandad was diagnosed with Prostate cancer...to say that this has upset me terribly is putting it mildly. However, courageous as ever my grandad is very positive about the treatment he will receive to halt it progressing. He will continue to row every weekend at the Bristol Aerial Rowing club. He still takes part in competitions as the Cox!! As long as he can row and exercise at the gym he will be fine. We are all staying as positive as we can, what else can we do!?!?

I've also had some really good days this week with some lovely walks along the beautiful River Avon in Bristol. The Avon Trail at Conham is perfect for a Sunday afternoon visit. You can take the woodland trail or the river trail. We took the latter. As we walked along the edge of the river, Mute swans peacefully paddled past and Mallard ducks viewed us from their platforms across on the other side. The wind blew the Weeping Willow trees and the sound of the wind in the trees oozed tranquility.

 We passed The Bristol Aerial Rowing club where my grandad is the Cox for his Veteran crew. The building has been on its present site since it was built in 1904. The Bristol Aerial rowing club was founded in 1876 and was originally based at the Harbour in Bristol.

We left the rivers edge and headed up towards the woodland trail. Here we joined the Bat trail! A large sign which read "Shhhhh sleeping Bats"  led me to a large and very dark cave. I peered through the protective grills but unfortunately without a torch I couldn't see anything inside the Batcave...next time.

With one day left until my third cycle of chemo starting, another trip along the River Avon was on the agenda. A sunny and breezy day and off to Lock Keeper pub and the start of the Bristol to Bath trail.
The River here is so peaceful and teaming with fish! House boats and Barges line the River on the opposite side. Its a very pretty stretch of the Avon.

 Heading out over the fields, dragonflies, Red Admiral butterflies and a Cormorant perched high up on the pinnacle of a dead tree! Later a lone Canada Goose glides past.

The next time we go out walking, we will be in Dorset and I will be walking the Coastal paths and beaches! This is the Lighter side of my week...making the most of each day as you just never know what the day will bring, darkness or light or a mix of both...