29 February 2016
The bonus day of 2016 came with blue skies. If you are going to have an extra day in a year this is just the kind to have so CJ and I set out early to visit the swans and take advantage. It felt like a spring day and I smiled as I walked past gardens with quirky ornaments and blossom on the tree near Monks Walk. Continue reading Leap Year’s Day, Spring flowers, swans and woods
25 February 2016
Usually, I visit Winchester on foot, at least in one direction. This time, of course, I’d driven there so there was no train to catch or long walk home. There would be a walk though. With narrow, congested streets, a confusing one way system and very limited car parking I’d decided to park in Twyford. That meant a nice three mile walk each way. Continue reading Goodbye Winchester, a riddle, a writer and a lot of interesting buildings
25 February 2016
Winchester has been the focus of many walks. From the rush of elation when I saw my turning point at the cathedral on my final Moonwalk training walk, to the lure of coffee at the end of the Itchen Navigation it has drawn me. Many times I’ve looked in awe at the massive Gothic cathedral, one of the largest in England and the longest in Europe, but I’d never been inside. An intriguing photograph on the Winchester Heritage Facebook page made me realise a visit was long overdue. The rattle of car keys alerted CJ and, when he heard what I was going to see, there was no putting him off.
Continue reading Winchester, a flooded crypt, sensory overload and a robin
23 February 2016
Feeling pretty pleased with myself for discovering far more of the old priory than I’d expected I left St Denys Church and was immediately face to face with the next interesting building. These days most school buildings are modern boxes of steel and glass. A few old style red brick school buildings remain and St Denys has one of them. Continue reading A small place, often overlooked
17 February 2016
Since Christmas the arch through the Bargate has been blocked off. It began around the time Santa was flying over the city. Most people thought this was the reason for the barriers but Christmas came and went, Santa and the German Market packed up and the barriers stayed. Maybe they’d forgotten to take them down? When the arch was still blocked in February, it seemed something more sinister might be going on. Last week I discovered exactly what and thought I’d go and take some photos before our city landmark changed for ever. Continue reading Ancient stones and the jamais remarqué phenomenon
16 February 2016
There were still things to be done in the kitchen today but the sun was shining and the river was calling. After a week of painting and cleaning I didn’t feel up to steep hills so decided on a gentle climb through Hum Hole. From there it would be more or less down hill all the way. CJ sensing a coffee stop at the Swan Garden centre, decided to come along. Continue reading The call of the river
15 February 2016
The second week in February seemed to be all about distractions stopping me going out walking. On Tuesday an appointment got me out of the house for a walk to town and back but there was no time for more than a quick snap of a very high tide by the rowing club on the Big Bridge. The river path I used to take to work was flooded and I was glad I didn’t need to walk that way. After that things went downhill quickly. First there was the Tax Man. Continue reading Distractions, tax, paint and fluff
8 February 2016
Today’s tale began before I was born, back in World War II in fact. It was a story I would have loved to have heard from one of the main players, my beloved Pappy, but he, being humble, kept it to himself. The first I knew of this story of heroism and humility came in a newspaper article back in the mid 1970’s but it wasn’t until today that I got the full story. Continue reading Bravery, humility and a chance meeting
4 February 2016
The boundary stone disappointment from my muddy Common walk was playing on my mind and, as it wasn’t actually raining this morning, I decided to look for the next on my list. Maybe I’d have more luck with this one. When I first read there was a stone on Netley Common I was expecting a walk along the shore. Imagine my surprise when I started my research and found Netley Common was actually in Thornhill, nowhere near Netley at all. Continue reading Netley Common, hearts and boundary stones
2 February 2016
As this wet, muddy winter has drawn on I’ve found myself pining for my long woodland walks, missing places like Tickleford Gully, West End Copse, and Shoreburs Greenway. Street walking might throw up some interesting history but a couple of tramps on the Common didn’t really cut it compared to walking through the woods. On Tuesday I decided to take a wander down to Millers Pond for a semi woodland fix. Continue reading Millers Pond, bricks, balloons and fishermen