This is my monthly walking roundup and journal for June 2023.
June was a very dry month! Hardly any rain and balmy late spring days were just what was needed for half-term holidays and the start of the summer season. Not so good for the farmers and gardeners though.
The water company (SW Water) had extended its hosepipe ban into West Devon, as well as the existing ban in Cornwall. It also offered water-saving aids, one of which was a water butt to collect rainwater. Right, I thought, I’ll have one of them – to compliment the one I already have. I had to empty the existing one to get the two working together. That was last month when we were getting exceptional rainfall. The day after my tanks were ready, it stopped! I have been the proud owner of two empty water butts ever since.
Here in the SW, the temperatures got up to around 25 degrees on a few days but were typically around 23 degrees. The SE got up to 32 degrees and parts of Scotland saw to high temperatures too.
A bit of a setback for me, while doing some decorating, kneeling down to get into a corner, my back clicked. Ouch! No long walks for me. I managed to get out for some very short lunchtime walks, simply to help my back recover. Walking helps – in moderation.
The good news: my Wife and I went off on our holidays to Croatia. We had never been, and it was a great two weeks to spend in a beautiful country on the Istrian Peninsula. I was amazed to see how verdant their countryside was – much greener than the SW England was upon our return.
Country and Coast – June
The wild meadows have certainly had their best days in May and into early June, but started to recede into seed preparation. It’s sad to see the amazing flowers dwindle, but seed production is important and, of course, it’s something to look forward to next year. Given the amount of interest in wild meadows, I think it will get bigger and better. I hope so.
I find June, being the start of Summer, tends to be calm. We normally get more rain, but strong winds and lashing rain give way to lazy, hazy days on the land and out at sea. I love it when there is a small swell and I see sets of waves coming into the shore, all neat and tidy.
June also sees the longest day with the sun rising just before 6am and setting at 9.45pm.
My comments of marvellous blooms and everything seeming more green than usual, well, the lack of rain dried things up somewhat.
Walks
Although my back injury and a very enjoyable holiday prevented me from getting out on a long walk, I recall from previous years that June is a good walking month. There’s not so much a need for all those layers of clothing and wet weather gear. Lighter footwear, shorts and tees certainly lighten the load. It’s just as well because June gets hot. It’s about wearing wide-rimmed hats and carrying water and sunscreen.
I got out for a walk around my village (around 6 miles) at the end of June; my back was feeling much better. It was good to see the acres of potato crops doing very nicely, despite the lack of rain. Here is how they have progressed through June…
At the start of June last year, I walked from St Germans to Kingsand. I then boarded a number of vintage buses to get home. It was all part of the Rame Peninsula Cornish Beer and Buses event. It’s happening a bit later this year at the start of July. So that’s something to look forward to. I’ll update you next month.
Until then.
