Marching to the tune of Darragh

Storm Darragh has swept across Iceni Territory towards the continent over the weekend leaving a stiff northerly wind whistling in its wake. I'm out with the dogs on the old Roman road running up towards Cambridge. We're here because the dogs need some exercise and the thick hedge to the side of the green lane provides some much needed shelter for that task.

Unsurprisingly given the inclement weather, we have the road to ourselves. Just a glimpse here and there of brown feathers as one of the occupants of the bushes dives into cover. There's nothing in the air until one, two and then three Red Kites appear - effortlessly surfing the air stream whilst scanning the ground for a meal. As rain drops join the gusts, I can only think they must be hungry to be hunting in this weather.

No sooner have they moved away than a Kestrel rises suddenly from the ground ahead, allowing the gale to blow it across our eye line, before assuming control and taking a low flight path to a leafless ash tree up ahead. Clearly raptors need to keep feeding, whatever the conditions.

I pick another tree in the distance as a target for the half way point of our walk. Without it, the rain now slanting across our path would persuade me to turn around immediately. The dogs are OK. Low to the ground, insulated by their thick coats and happy in their work of detecting who and what has passed this way in recent times.

Retracing our steps I'm glad of the well drained 'aggar' of the road. Still banked to either side and providing a firm surface the best part of 2,000 years after the Roman engineers created it to join with the main route along the line of the Icknield Way leading up to Iceni Territory. Even in poor weather, it's good to be out. Opportunities to break new ground have been limited through this year and whilst this trail is an old favourite, it's a reminder that it's always worth the effort.