Tag: Lakeside Country Park

The Lakeside steam railway – first published 18 April 2014

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Playing the Easter Bunny on Good Friday 2014 I’d made it to the airport and taken a photo of trains waiting at Southampton Parkway Station whilst worrying about the chocolate, probably melting, in my rucksack. Next I was on my way to see yet more trains. These were just up the road at Lakeside Steam Railway. To be honest I’d chosen that route more to see the lakes than the trains and because there is a footpath through the other side close to Philo and Sirona’s house I wanted to try but still… Continue reading The Lakeside steam railway – first published 18 April 2014

Lakeside, a progress report

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17 November 2016

With the Gosport Half Marathon at the weekend and a four day running event in Cyprus hot on its heels, plus bucketsfulls of rain, this  week was mostly spent running about making preparations. There was little time for interesting walks but, as the sun was shining today, I thought I’d better make the most of it and check out the progress on the new visitor centre at Lakeside.  Continue reading Lakeside, a progress report

Homeward bound, stupidity tragedy and fate – first published 19 February 2014

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Fate played a part in my choice of walk on 19 February 2014. As I was making my way back from Lakside a terrible accident was happening on a nearby route I’d thought about walking that morning. Of course, I didn’t know it at the time. Even so, on my walk home I witnessed a stupid act that could easily have become a tragic accident. It all left me thinking about the fragility of life and how easily we can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Continue reading Homeward bound, stupidity tragedy and fate – first published 19 February 2014

A one handed clock, cygnets and a few trains

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21 July 2016

Monks Brook Meadows is connected to Monks Brook Playing Fields via a tunnel under Stoneham Way. It was an oasis of shade on our hot walk. We were slightly reluctant to leave it. The playing field is bordered by more trees and meadow but we walked through without stopping this time. There are only so many pictures of flowers even I am willing to take. The next part of our journey was not one I was looking forward to.  Continue reading A one handed clock, cygnets and a few trains

Driving in my car

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22 September 2015

Once the working week was over it was time to think about driving again. Usually it’s walks I plan during my free time but, at the moment, driving has to take centre stage to give me some much needed practice of being out there on my own. There was a shopping trip with a very brave CJ and a successful bay park at the top of the hill on Sunday morning when Commando was out running. In the afternoon Commando sat in the passenger seat and talked me through multi-storey car parks at the Swan Centre in Eastleigh. Apart from a slight disaster when I stopped too far from the ticket machine and had to reverse and move closer it too was successful. As I’d never driven to Eastleigh on any of my lessons and only knew the route from my walks, it felt like an achievement. Continue reading Driving in my car

an evening walk and a farewell party

Heading for Monks Brook Meadows
Heading for Monks Brook Meadows

26 June 2015

The bad week ended with a walk. Part of our farewell for the RCSM was a meal at Ham Farm. As the team wouldn’t be getting there until half past seven and it didn’t seem worth going home at five just to go out again, I decided to walk there from work. With my head still full of images of gunmen on Tunisian beaches, I left the office and set off. Originally Id planned to walk across Cobden Bridge towards the Navigation but it was a sultry evening, hot and thundery with a chance of rain so I thought it wasn’t the best of plans. Continue reading an evening walk and a farewell party

Weirs, alpacas, goats impersonating cows and stinging nettles

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21 April 2015

Even before I crossed the road I could see the green sign was still there and my heart sank a little. Even so, I crossed and peered uncertainly up the towpath. It loooked dry and firm but still I dithered. Last year there was a bad breach where the path looked to be in danger of being washed away altogether. If I went ahead I could come seriously unstuck and have to turn back. The cracked wall was testement to just how bad the flooding had been. The wier was flowing fast, but it wasn’t as high as I’ve seen it. In the end I decided to give it a try. Continue reading Weirs, alpacas, goats impersonating cows and stinging nettles

From lonely Lakeside to raucous Riverside

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14 April 2015

Not wishing to disturb the nesting swan, once I’d taken my photos, I quietly left and carried on along the bank of the lake. On the next viewing platform a duck was looking out at the water, the only other bird I’d seen at the lake. There were fishermen on the opposite bank. A little further on bluebells were growing at the water’s edge but there were no more birds or any sign of more nests. Seeing the swan’s nest had made me greedy for more. Continue reading From lonely Lakeside to raucous Riverside

a wild swan chase?

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14 April 2015

After the very short walk on Sunday and a day spent desperatly trying to tame my jungle of a garden, I thought it was about time I clocked up a few miles for my April  total. As it happened, I knew just where to go without too much thought at all. A little bird told me the swans had begun nesting and I knew just the place to see if there was anything to see. It would also mean a ten mile round trip to add nicely to my mileage. Continue reading a wild swan chase?