Rod Collins

Saturday morning saw me with plenty to do on the domestic front but the outdoors is becoming increasingly like a narcotic - it seems to beckon causing me to fold with the slightest of excuses
Time being limited due to F1 qualifying it was off to Irby Dales to feed the soul and mind - a chance to lose oneself in one’s own thoughts.

Irby Dales is a fabulous walk, designated public footpath, just by the historic village of Irby Upon Humber. It’s easy enough to find just off the A46 leaving Grimsby and heading toward Lincoln.

There are earthworks all over the area, I sought out one before and have already recorded the church so my visit today was for no other reason than simply being there.

And here is where I was

Irby Dales ~ A Rambler’s Delight

The photograph doesn’t do the place true justice but hopefully does it enough to convey the image of the place to a room near you and, in part at least, to explain why I returned.

I sat for a little while just gazing out at this very view - I’m sure it has some magical properties as it seems to have instantaneous restorative capabilities and well as the ability to transport the mind somewhere else . . .
Somewhere that allows purity of though, a place free from the usual clutter of life that fills one’s head.

I sat allowing the mind to simply drift and go wherever it wanted, thoughts were of a simple life and how I hoped it would last. I was grateful for my situation and everything I have in my life but likewise also reminded about what I don’t have.
A place like this seems to engender meditative thought - gives you chance to weigh things up in an even-handed manner.

So often in a modern world do we think only of what we deem to be missing whilst taking all that we have for granted.
That’s something I don’t do by nature so a chance to mull over hopes, aspirations and dreams in quiet solitude was a rare event for me.

I would urge everybody who reads this to try and find such a place.
If your unfortunate enough not to live in Lincolnshire - then you’ll have to find somewhere on your own - but do so - give it chance - even if life prevents it being a physical place - try and find such a place in your mind and free your thoughts - look at yourself from up above.

I should probably draw this to a close as I suspect I’m beginning to sound a little new age
You’ve learned little of Irby Dales I’m afraid but then, what is there to know ? In many ways it is like so many other places.
It is nothing but component parts, land, trees, fields, flowers etc - they’re all found pretty much everywhere.
Here though, they have been brought together much like a great writer brings together words which have been used before only in a different order and context - add to that the power of the mind, not in this case harnessing it but letting it go - and you’ve got a special little spot.

Philosophically Yours
Rod