The Summer of 2019 - Day 2

We were up ripe and early. It had been a cold night with the wind making its own music on the the fragile plastic tent right up to the early hours. We did not brave the weather to see the sun rise, although it was a tempting prospect. As the day grew though, and it became warmer, we emerged, showered and breakfasted. 

Mohammad slept on though :) while we chilled. 

 


It was a lovely morning – all the discomfort of the night before were forgotten. I settled down to read my book – something I haven’t done in years, preferring to listen and watch most of the time.
Later, with breakfast done, Mo browsed, I read, and Insh and Mahdi went of on a trek - equipped with a bucket and a net - in search of a brook to study the bugs that lived in the water. 

After the Prophet is an engrossing read - giving an interesting insight into how Islamic History appears from the outside - to a relatively unbiased writer - trying to understand what led to the unfolding of events that followed the death of the prophet. 

Mahdi is a tireless walker - he can go on and on, and now he was in his element  - vigorous and energetic, in wellies, ready for any adventure that came his way. 
The gentle breeze, the silence not disrupted by city noises, and the sun stealing through the clouds to warming my skin every now and then - i spent some of my most idyllic moments. 
Before we left the camp - Mahdi had some Mamu time. :)

 

We left Upper Hurst Farm - in search of the elusive Ice-cream shop in Tagg Lane - the makers of the creamiest, most satisfyingly flavoursome ice cream ever. What makes a visit to this ice-cream parlour more exciting is that it is in the middle of no where. Surrounded by fields and grasslands in all directions - the Tagg Lane farm is a lone building, ordinary and small, something that you can drive by without even noticing it, unless, of course you are actually looking for it. And we  - we always have our eyes peeled for it. 
Surprisingly, Tagg Lane Ice-cream is quite popular, especially at this time of the year - particularly with bikers; and inevitably we meet a bunch of motor bike enthusiasts taking a break - ice-creaming here. The gleaming silver and black motor bikes and their riders in professional gear and helmets, lent an exciting ambience to the small parlour. Mahdi went off with Mamu to get his ice cream.