After getting lost in the woods on my previous walk I thought I’d have a proper plan for my last November walk in 2013. Due to a blog post I’d read I knew exactly where to go. Alan in New Hampshire writes wonderful articles about the things he finds in the woods and he’s especially knowledgeable about fungi. His beautiful photographs of turkey tails that had me heading towards the river. Continue reading Fish eggs, turkey tails and a triangular tale – first published 30 November 2013
22 June 2016
Today began with a text message from Vodafone to say the new phone I ordered a month ago had finally been delivered to the shop. So the first job of the day was to make sure all the photos on my current phone were downloaded onto my iPad. The second was a three mile walk into town with no photo stops because, once I got the new phone, they’d all be erased. Well, that was what I thought anyway.
Continue reading A phone disaster and an RR10 at Manor Farm Country Park
12 June 2016
Our first port of call on The Common was Cemetery Lake. The last time I tried to visit it was back in December and the ground was so boggy I hadn’t been able to get across the grass to the observation area and the path around the perimeter was thick with mud. In the end I’d had to content myself with a Christmas card Robin sitting on the fence. Today the grass was wet from the recent shower but walkable. CJ and I headed for the gate. Continue reading Southampton Common cycles, cygnets and a Skyride finale
28 May 2016
It’s been an odd couple of days. First there was a small disaster with a WordPress update that had my heart in my mouth for a while until I called the winderful people at LCN. Of course they sorted it all out for me quick smart, much to my relief. Then there were lots of little errands to run, eating up miles but nothing that could really be called a genuine walk followed by sitting at my Mac working on my first Itchen Spitfires’ newsletter. By Friday evening the newsletter was all but ready and I needed to get out and stretch my legs. As I also realised I’d not eaten anything since breakfast I thought I’d take a wander down to the Butcher’s Hook pub, have a coffee and a look at the final piece of the Roam Art Trail puzzle then maybe get some chips from the chip shop. Continue reading Disappointment, triumph, chips and cygnets
5 May 2016
On the way home from the RR10 we drove across Cobden Bridge. The sun was almost set and I looked over at Riverside Park a little longingly. The Snow Geese had captured the colours of the evening sky and were glowing in beautiful striations of gold, pink and red. If I could have jumped out of the car there and then and taken a photo I would have. Some how I didn’t think the Spitfires giving me a lift would have appreciated it and it certainly wouldn’t have done my reputation any good. Continue reading Sunset disappointments and surprises
Of course, the twelve mile marker wasn’t the final piece of my September 2013 walk at all. We still had to walk to the wharf and from there to the centre of Winchester to catch the train home. Finding the train station has always been an issue for me in the past. In fact, finding anything in Winchester is a problem. This time I had a guide with me. Continue reading Winchester with a guide – first published 11 September 2013 quote
On 11 September 2013 I went for a little walk. When I say little, I meant about fourteen and a half miles. For once I wasn’t walking alone, I had Sirona with me. In my defence, she did know what she was getting into. Continue reading The Navigation with company – first published 11 September 2013
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
28 July 2013
Commando and I both set off at the same time this morning. He was off on a thirteen mile run and I was off to the Airport to look for a rhino, an eight mile journey there and back, give or take. He disappeared round the corner while I waited on the island in the middle of the main road to get across. Sometimes I wish I could run, these little jaunts would be so much faster. Still I’d probably miss loads of stuff if I did. Continue reading Hunting down Airport Rhino – first published 28 July 2013
31 December 2015
It seemed fitting that my last walk of the year should be one of my oldest routes. In fact, looking back. It was my last walk of 2014 too so it seems to be a bit of a tradition. The weatherman said it would stay dry until mid afternoon but I didn’t really believe him so I made sure I was well waterproofed when I set off. The sky was blue, I’d almost forgotten sky came in colours other than grey. Although it was colder than it has been, the proof that this has been one of the warmest December’s on record came as I headed for Monks Walk and saw blossom on a tree. Continue reading The last walk