19 July 2017
Tonight’s RR10 adventure was at Janesmoor Pond in the New Forest, although there was some slight confusion, at least on my part because I thought it was across the road at Stoney Cross. Luckily Commando knew where we were going and we managed to pull into the correct car park . The first job was erecting the tent. This proved slightly more difficult than expected. Continue reading Janesmoor Pond, more ups than downs
18 March 2017
Care For a Walk day has come round again and, with it, the joy of a walk in the New Forest with zero chance of getting lost or ending up somewhere other than where I meant to. The annual spring walk for Macmillan Cancer Support is planned by Pete and Mike, experts on all the trails and paths because they are lucky enough to live in the forest. This means I don’t have to worry about anything other than putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the scenery. Actually, this time, I did have to worry about not losing CJ, who has discovered he loves a walk too and wanted to come along. Continue reading Care For a Walk – Totton to Matley, ponies dogs and a deer
19 February 2017
Today brought the penultimate CC6 at Denny Wood in the New Forest. For once it was an area I knew fairly well as I’ve walked through it many times as part of the Care For A Walk fifteen mile fundraiser. Usually it is muddy and I had the feeling today was going to be no exception. On a different day I might have gone for a wander across White Moor to Lyndhurst and Bolton’s Bench a coulple of miles down Beaulieu Road, or crossed the road and done my usual trick of getting lost in Matley Wood. Today though I was being gentle on my poor old foot with its healing blister. Besides, there wouldn’t be too much time as Commando was running a CC6. Continue reading Denny Wood, the penultimate CC6
18 March 2016
The five milers were waiting for us when we got back to the New Inn and, after a quick stop for refreshments and a goodbye to the departing ten milers, we were off again. This time we turned left, which meant I had at least a fighting chance of knowing where I was. As the half way point of the walk was the New Forest Hotel in Ashurst and everyone but me would be stopping for a drink this was a good job, otherwise I’d still be wandering around the forest now. Continue reading Care For A Walk 2016, the final five
Commando was training for his first marathon. His first Sunday morning run of August was fifteen miles, his longest ever. He ended up, hot but otherwise unscathed from his long, long run. He did say his calves were a little achy so I added peppermint oil to some of my body butter and gave them a massage which he said did the trick. He could have just been trying to make me feel better though. Either way I was very proud of him. The next run was eighteen miles. Continue reading Loneliness of the long distance runner – first published 18 August 2013
On 11 August 2013, Commando decided to do his fifteen mile marathon training run in the New Forest and I went along for moral support and to have a little walk of my own. We set off earlyish. It was raining which was good news for Commando because he likes running in the rain, not so much for me. Still I had my bright pink Moonwalk hat and my windproof, waterproof coat and I figured at least it wouldn’t be muddy and flooded like my last New Forest walk. Continue reading walking through the heather – first published 11 August 2013
Sometimes, I set off on a walk with a clear objective in mind, other times I just wander and see where the trails take me. One Sunday in early April 2013, I started out on the former and ended up on the latter. It may not have ended where I’d wanted, and more than two years on, I’ve still not managed to get there, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t interesting. Continue reading a Beaulieuful stroll – first published 7 April 2013
On the last day of March 2013, despite my recent twenty two mile walk, I was more than happy to go for a wander in the New Foest with Commando. He was off running for an hour so it was never going to be an epic walk but there were a few surprises to be had along the way and Commando had a final trick up his sleeve to make me smile. Continue reading you’d think I’d walked enough for one weekend… 31 March 2013
21 March 2015
While I was keeping a worried eye on the clouds the ponies, who’d been grazing some way off beside Beaulieu Road, had noticed us. Maybe it was the rustling of sandwich bags or the smell of the cold bacon rolls but they decided we were interesting enough to investigate. Very slowly they sauntered towards us. Once or twice I may have mentioned that I find ponies a little scary. As they wandered nonchalantly in our direction, trying to pretend they were just looking for juicier grass I watched them nervously. Continue reading Care For A Walk? Lyndhurst to Totton
8 March 2015
On Sunday, Commando had a fifteen mile run scheduled on his London Marathon training plan. When he said he fancied running in the New Forest I was putting on my boots before he’d even finished speaking. In my head I had visions of beautiful blue sky over purple heather on White Moor and maybe a pony or two in the distance. The actual walk couldn’t have been further from this if it had tried.
Continue reading Ponies, ponies everywhere and a bit of running
