Tag: Spring

The secret of the other side of the river

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15 March 2015

The weather was a little disappointing on Sunday morning, one of those grey days with a hint of drizzle that make walking a chore rather than a pleasure. Even so, after a little grumbling and wavering over whether to go out, I set off for the river. For a long time now I’ve been looking at the opposite bank as I walk the second half of Riverside Park. Once in a while I think I’ve seen people over there walking but I’ve never been able to work out how to get there. After a lot of map looking, I thought I might have found the secret and I was keen to explore. Continue reading The secret of the other side of the river

Ponies, ponies everywhere and a bit of running

Bolton's Bench
Bolton’s Bench

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

A blue sky kind of week

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4 to 7 March 2015

The Tuesday afternoon hailstorm was short lived and, by Wednesday morning, it was back to blue skies by the time I left for work.  For a change I decided to take a slightly longer route along the river with lovely glimpses through the fences and gates to all the moorings there. The water was flat and calm reflecting the boats moored under Cobden Bridge and I couldn’t help smiling to myself as I made my way to the office. It was going to be a busy week with two members of staff on holiday and a new one to train so I needed all the calm views I could get especially as I was still expecting Commando’s stomach bug to kick in at any moment. Continue reading A blue sky kind of week

Homeward bound

Water Farm
Water Farm

Eventually I dragged myself away from my seat overlooking the Itchen Valley and, humming to myself, set off along the lane towards Church Fields. There were sheep grazing on the Water Farm fields. At this point I had a choice of route, down the winding lane to Shawford and onto the Navigation, or across the road and through the southern part of Twyford Village. The Navigation was tempting, mostly because it meant avoiding the horrors of a mile and a bit of footpathless Highbridge Road with cars zooming past at fifty plus miles an hour. The Navigation, on the other hand, would have mud and breached banks. The section between Otterbourne and Allbrook was almost impassable on my last visit. Taking that option could well mean having to turn back. Continue reading Homeward bound

Twyford, revisiting an old friend

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3 March 2015

Safely across the road at the Hockley Traffic lights I set off along the road towards Twyford. It’s not the nicest of roads with cars whizzing past and nothing much to see at first, just half a mile of potholed pavement, traffic and fields hidden behind scrubby trees. I could have been on the Navigation trail if I’d just turned to the west but there was method in my madness. Back in the days of Moonwalk training walks, when my one foray onto the Navigation at Mansbridge had ended after half a mile of mud and fear before I’d even got started, this had been the route I’d taken when I came to the long miles. The ten mile mark was Twford, known as one of the most beautiful villages in Hampshire and, by trial and error, I’d found a little oasis of peace and calm amid the screaming muscles and blistered feet. Continue reading Twyford, revisiting an old friend

Winchester, an exercise in not getting lost

Right, which way now?
Right, which way now?

3 March 2015

It started with a bus. The bus was late due to the roadworks on the bridge. It crawled along but it got me there in the end. Then there was a train. The train was delayed due to signalling problems at Woking. It arrived at the wrong platform, necessitating a mad dash up the stairs and down the stairs but I got there in the end. Good job I’m intimately acquainted with Southampton Central station so I knew where to go. I’m pretty sure a few people missed it. At least I’d had time to grab a coffee from the station cafe beforehand. Continue reading Winchester, an exercise in not getting lost

The rise and fall of Southampton castle

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1 March 2015

Interesting as my exploration of Clausentum may have been, there really wasn’t all that much walking involved. On such a bright day it seemed a shame to go home so soon so I carried on walking with no real plan. My feet led me over the Big Bridge. On the other side the desolate park was looking anything but desolate as I passed,  brightened by a large cornelian cherry beside the railings, vibrant with an overload of tiny blooms that I’d taken for leaf buds from a distance. Either way it is a sign that spring is in the air. It felt like a day for history so, on a whim, I decided I’d go from a Manor House I couldn’t really see to a castle that isn’t really there. It seemed like a plan.

Continue reading The rise and fall of Southampton castle

Signs of spring and some great teamwork

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23 to 28 February 2015

Yet again, Sunday was my only real walking day last weekend. Most of my time was taken up with food shopping, cooking and house selling. Not my house of course but it was still pretty stressful and upsetting. The moment had finally come to say goodbye to Commando Senior’s house and, while it would bring closure of a kind, it also brought a few tears. After all, this was the house Commando was born in and the last place I saw my wonderful Father in Law. Unfortunately, things didn’t run as smoothly as they could have but that’s a story for another day I think. Continue reading Signs of spring and some great teamwork