Walk with the Moira Group

It was the most gorgeous day for our "First Thursday" walk, almost too hot and sunny.  John had organized this one in the Shackerstone area and trial-walked it with grandson Sam 3 weeks ago.

 

 In this field we encountered an over-friendly horse [fittingly, it's blue jacket had AMIGO embroidered on it] who insisted that Brenda had something interesting to eat in her plastic bag:

 

 

 

At this point along the canal on our way back to the Rising Sun pub in Shackerstone John pointed out that behind the clump of weeping willows in the middle of the photo on the right were the remains of a motte and bailey [Sam, an archaeology student, had told him about it on their walk]....

... and sure enough, there it was:

I had read about these structures but can't remember seeing one before.  I've always been interested in ancient history, and I think the expression "beyond the pale" originated as "beyond the bailey" - where you certainly wouldn't want to be!