Tag: Fungi

The Hahne farm trail, rocks, fallen trees and hidden markers

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15 October 2015

We’d had a great evening with Maggie, Alan and Marina, reminiscing until long after dark. Sadly, Katie wasn’t well enough to join us but we did get a few moments to visit with her. She was frail and tired, so we didn’t stay too long but there were hugs and she seemed in remarkably good spirits, surrounded by beautiful things to make her smile. It seems she’s a girl after my own heart in that respect. The sky was filled with stars when we left and Alan explained Gravenhurst is a dark sky area. The street lights here face downwards, not out or up allowing a fantastic starry view. Continue reading The Hahne farm trail, rocks, fallen trees and hidden markers

A family outing, Port Carling, Huckleberry Rock and Bracebridge

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14 October 2015

When we got back to the chalet we found a note from Alan saying he and Maggie would be round to pick us up in about an hour so we made ourselves a coffee and waited. We had both fallen asleep by the time they arrived. Maybe it was the jet lag catching up with us or all the fresh air.
“We thought we’d take you out to see some trails,” Maggie said.
“Not far, just about an hour’s drive there and back,” Alan added.
This was when I realised that not far has a completely different meaning in Canada. In England, not far means a mile down the road, in Canada, if it’s less than an hour’s drive it’s nearby. Suddenly I began to wonder just how long these trails were. Continue reading A family outing, Port Carling, Huckleberry Rock and Bracebridge

Are there bears in these woods?

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14 October 2015

Now we had some breakfast inside us and supplies in the fridge Commando decided to go for a short run leaving me to my own devices. As I was itching to get out and explore the lake I didn’t mind one bit. Beside the row of chalets, some steep wooden steps led down a grass bank, turned to gold by the covering of pine needles, to the lake shore. At the bottom of the bank, below our balcony window, upturned canoes rested on a rough stone wall and some weathered boards. The tall pines turned the ground to a patchwork of light and shade and the air was clean and fresh. Continue reading Are there bears in these woods?

Interconnected woods and surprises

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Sunday 4 October 2013

Leaving my chilly perch under the stand of pines I ambled back down the hill beside the avenue of limes heading for the place I’d first emerged into the clearing on that wet July Day. Back then I had no idea of the extent of the woodland and the rain stopped me exploring further than the little park by the road that had first caught my attention. When I plunged back into the trees I soon found myself at the meeting of three trails where I’d sheltered from the rain that day and there were the steps I’d climbed, looking less treacherous in the sun. Continue reading Interconnected woods and surprises

surprises and weather forecasts

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25 August 2015

The forecast for Tuesday was cloudy but fine until about two o’clock so I decided to go out early and have a wander along the Itchen Navigation. There was a side path I thought I’d seen that might, or might not, lead me into the centre of Eastleigh without the need to walk all the way to Bishopstoke Road and back again. From the map it looked walkable and, if it was, it would cut off about two miles to the Swan Centre and make another bail out point from the Navigation should I ever need it. According to my calculations I should be able to walk there, have a quick coffee in the Swan Centre and walk back before the rain started. It sounded very much like a plan when I set off. Continue reading surprises and weather forecasts

Butterfly walk and runners on the common

Mayfield Park
Mayfield Park

28 July 2015

The butterflies have been conspicuous in their absence this year for some reason. Although I’ve seen the odd one fluttering over the garden or when I’ve been out walking, there haven’t been nearly as many as usual. The bees have been buzzing around all the flowers in my garden since spring, but I’ve missed the colour of delicate wings drifting from plant to plant. On Tuesday, I thought I’d go and seek them out in their own habitat, the Butterfly Walk. Continue reading Butterfly walk and runners on the common

twenty two blue sky miles – first published 29 March 2013

Frozen puddles
Frozen puddles

The end of March 2013 was Good Friday and time was running out on the Moonwalk Training front. After a horrible wet twenty miles it was time to step it up to twenty two. The forecast was good, as long as I got home before the afternoon, but it was still icy cold. As ever, there were plenty of moments when I wondered why I’d signed up for this… Continue reading twenty two blue sky miles – first published 29 March 2013

Woods and rain

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7 July 2015

It was a disappointingly miserable morning, following a frustrating day where I’d spent precious hours sorting out an appointment that had been cancelled at the last minute instead of enjoying the sunshine. Originally I’d planned a walk along the river but the weather changed my mind. If I’ve learned anything in my years of walking it’s that the river is not the best place to be when the heavens open. Continue reading Woods and rain

Shoreburs Greenway, a ribbon of green in the heart of the city

A heron on Millers Pond
A heron on Millers Pond

17 May 2015

Looking at the weather forecast and my diary, it was pretty certain Sunday was going to be the only day I’d have a chance to get out on a walk this weekend. Not good news for my May mileage but those are the breaks, I guess. The usual looking at maps followed and I thought I’d come up with a plan of sorts. For once it was one that hardly involved rivers of any kind.

Continue reading Shoreburs Greenway, a ribbon of green in the heart of the city

The windmills of my mind

Alan and Marilyn Bergman.
Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

19 October 2014

A local news item determined my Sunday walk this week. The report was about the Bursledon Windmill and the work being done to refurbish it. This is the only working windmill in Hampshire so, historically, it’s of great importance. The original wooden mill was built in 1766 and the bicentennial of the current mill is next month. The hope is that the work will be finished by then and the sails will be turning. This would be nice because I’ve never seen the sails turning before. Continue reading The windmills of my mind