Charlie notices that dad is still in bed as the sunlight shines through the bedroom window and he starts to get excited as he knows it is a day for us.
Mum and dad hoped they would maybe have a bit of a sleep in but paddle paws decides otherwise and starts charging around the house all in a tizzy.
Richard Rose Academy building
After the normal waking up routine is accomplished, Charlie sits looking hopefully up at our leads, hung by the side of the fridge. As if mum or dad needed a hint that we needed to go on an expedition.
Although the sun was shining the sky looked a bit overcast so it was decided we would go to Rickerby Park.
We have been here a number of times and it is a great place to let off steam and not too far away.
Debris left on fence
Walking along the edge of the River Eden the sky is dominated by the high rise cranes still in use above the new school being built nearby.
Bright white concrete contrasting with the dark sky clearly showed off the modern obelisk to education.
Further along the river, much of the wire and wood post fence has been removed or still has river debris stuck to it.
This fence was installed early last year but the floods in December seem to have taken their toll.
Numbered post in park
We reported in December on the amount of debris left behind as millions of gallons of water cascaded past this location and out to sea.
Depending on the weather we can either go all the way around the park or if the grass is a bit muddy stick to one of the paths that cross the wide green spaces.
Snowdrops were much in evidence on the banks of the stream that flows through the top part of Rickerby park.
Although it has not rained for many days, the ground was still a bit damp so as we started our return we made for the nearest path to help dry our paws.
Rickerby Park War Memorial
Sticking out from the base of a large tree we spotted a marker post with a red and white label stuck to it.
Do you know what it marks? Let us know via the comments section below.
Memorial
We have walked through Rickerby Park many times but we have not, I don’t think, mentioned the large stone War Memorial.
Our walks frequently seem an excuse for mum and dad to get photographs for one or other of their websites and this walk was no exception.
St. Michael's and St. Marks's Church in Carlisle
Many photographs were taken of the memorial for one of mums websites called Gravestonepix.com, so as we rest this afternoon she can be busy writing it up.
Up the hill
Just as we thought our walk was over we headed straight past the car and towards a new set of steps built into the bank.
We were heading for a place called Stanwix and the church where, as we drove past the other day, dad had spotted a clock he had not photographed by civic-time.com.
Bench Mark on side of Stanwix Church
St. Michael’s church is set in some lovely grounds with thousands of small crocus flowers providing a carpet of colour on the south facing bank.
Photograph of clock taken we were just about to leave when dad spotted carved into the wall near the entrance this benchmark and bolt.
Consulting the bench-mark database, as we did last week, it appears that this is quite an important mark as it has been used in the First Primary levelling done between 1840-60.
It was levelled with a height of 110.9510 feet [33.8179 metres] above mean sea level.
Alongside the cut mark was also a square reflective tag which also looked as if it was from some kind of mapping exercise. A number of these tags were stuck to the outside of the church. Do you know why?
Images taken and information recorded, we head back down the hill and to the car, arriving home just in time for mum to watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix qualifying.
