A rainy walk in Ross-on-Wye

I sought the Lord, and he answered me ; He delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 34 : 4

The sky was dark and gloomy, the air was damp and raw, the streets were wet and sloppy. The smoke hung sluggishly above the chimney tops as if it lacked the courage to rise, and the rain came slowly and doggedly down, as if it had not even the spirit to pour.

Charles Dickens 1812 -1870 Author

The market town of Ross-on-Wye is in England Herefordshire. It is on the border of Wales, the river Wye and on the edge of the Forest of Dean.

It is known for a rector, Dr John Egerton, who started taking friends for boat trips down the valley from his rectory in Ross. Then in 1782 William Gilpin’s book Observations on the River Wye was the first illustrated tour guide published in Britain. Once it appeared there were soon eight boats doing excursions along the river Wye. Today we would have done one of these boat trips regardless of the weather, however they said the river was too high and they hadn’t clearance to use their cruise boats. The Wye river is to be respected it has strong currents and can be deep and very cold.

The King’s Head

A place to sleep and eat. Quiet and comfortable.

Then walk down towards the river.

Can you spot the River Wye winding into the distance… the drizzle is quite something.

William Wordsworth wrote – On revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a tour July 13 1798.

Five years have past, five summer's,  with the length
Of five long winters! and again I hear
Those waters, rolling from their mountain springs
With a soft inland murmur- Once again
Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,
That on a wild secluded scene impress
Thoughts of more deep seclusions, and connect
The landscape with the quiet of the sky.

You may listen to this rather long poem heard read . Press the underlined section.

Dr Ian Mc Gilchrist reads The Tinteem Abbey Ode.

On a day like today it is easy to worry but here is something : “Remember, the best cure of worry is to do something positive. That’s because fear is endless and formless, whereas even the worst outcome has an ending.” Adeline Yen Mah ( Chinese-American author and physician known for her autobiography Falling Leaves.)

Thank you for spending time with us . It has been a wet experience in this market town.

Sandy 🙂