Saturday 19th March (March along the Drover's Trail)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window and saw sunshine. This was unusual because this was real sunshine. Not the promise of sunshine, or a hint of sunshine, but real rays of sun; the big current bun. Today Mr. Kite and his Birding Companion were going for a walk along a drover's trail called the Kerry Ridgeway. This route started near Newtown, in Powys, and ended in Bishop's Castle Shropshire

At nine thirty The Incapacitants were dropped off at Cider House Farm in the hills outside Newtown at the start of Kerry Ridgeway. The weather was sunny. the forecast good and the birding competition was on,; 'Eyes open; look around'. Fortunately the Cider House did not sell cider so The Incapacitants gave that a miss and walked into the March sunshine and onto Kerry Ridgeway at the start of a fifteen miles walk at more than one thousand feet above sea level. The signs had FFORD LAS CERI and the walk was pre iron age. Now The Incapacitants did not understand such things but were thrilled by the fantastic views around them.

To cut a long story short; the walk was breathtaking, literally. Great scenic views across Wales, Shropshire and into Herefordshire. The Incapacitants saw more bird species than expected; a total of thirty eight, so the competition was a draw. They watched Ravens, Buzzards and Meadow Pipits in the spring sunshine and Redpoll, Coal Tits and Siskins in the plantations. Not all flying creature had feathers. They also saw butterflies and bees and picked the first Daisys of the year. At four o'clock The Incapacitants marched into a sunlit Bishops Castle and headed to the Three Tuns to quench their thirst.

Now the Three Tuns was very lively. Rugby, young girls, The Incapacitants and beer brewed on the premises. This was a real cocktail for pleasure so The Incapacitants quaffed Three Tuns Cleric Cure until 'The Cows came Home'. Being new to droving, and not realising that drovers had to drive their cows, pigs, geese and sheep along the trail to the market. the animals did not follow. So The Incapacitants sat in the pub drinking and waiting until 'The Cows came Home'. The animals did not arrive but the beer went down well. After three hours of waiting, the 'Cows did not come Home' but The Incapacitants did. Cheers from a tired sunlit Mr. Kite.