Tag: Totton

Parkrun tourism and a wedding

Spot the bride and groom

Our parkrun tourism on Saturday 4 June was a little out of the ordinary. It was the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and Commando wasn’t running because of a minor injury, but that wasn’t what made it strange. It was actually the wedding day of two of our friends, Helen and Andy, and they were beginning their nuptials at the twenty-fifth Bartley parkrun. Bartley parkrun is in Totton, so at least we didn’t have too early a start, although it took us a while to find the venue. It’s also a very new parkrun. Race number one was on 18th December 2021, and Helen and Andy have been part of the core volunteer team from the outset.

Continue reading Parkrun tourism and a wedding

Testing the Test Boardwalk – first published 24 August 2014

After my 2014 visit to Eling Tide Mill I headed for the Boardwalk across the River Test. In truth I didn’t really know where I was going. When I saw the sign for the long distance Test Way walk I double checked on WalkJogRun just be be really sure I went the right way. Much as I’d like to try the forty four mile walk one day when I have time on my hands and I’m feeling strong it wasn’t something I wanted to tackle on a Sunday afternoon when I had loads to do at home. Once I left the sign, the bridge and the River Test behind me it wasn’t long before I came to the Test Boardwalk. Continue reading Testing the Test Boardwalk – first published 24 August 2014

Show me the way to go home – first published 24 august 2014

Finally my 2014 ambition to visit Eling Tide Mill had been fulfilled. With one last look back along the causeway at the little boats in the marina I left the mill behind and made for the road. There were some interesting looking apartments overlooking the small harbour and I have to admit to a pang of envy. Imagine looking out of your window at the old mill and the ever changing view as boats come and go. Continue reading Show me the way to go home – first published 24 august 2014

Eling Tide Mill – first published 24 August 2014

At the end of August 2014, I finally got round to the Eling Tide Mill walk. Even so, the walk started off in a grump. I’d intended to have a shortish walk, maybe five miles or so, and attempt the Eling Tide Mill on Tuesday. When I looked at the weather forecast it seemed Tuesday was going to be torrential downpours though. This rather put the cat among the pigeons. Then I realised I’d forgotten to charge my phone so I had to hang around drinking coffee while it charged. Not a happy bunny. Continue reading Eling Tide Mill – first published 24 August 2014

Eling a tide mill, a sweet shop and a view of the docks

28 March 2017

After more than a week of doing as I was told, resting my knee and not walking anywhere I didn’t absolutely have to, I was going stir crazy. The knee was getting better every day, athough it was still swollen and unhappy with being bent much. My tolerance for sitting around had reached breaking point though so, today, I decided to go for a test walk. The plan was to take a leisurely bus journey to Milbrook and then a gentle stroll over the causeway to Eling. All in all it would be less than five miles and almost all flat.  Continue reading Eling a tide mill, a sweet shop and a view of the docks

Care For a Walk – Totton to Matley, ponies dogs and a deer

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

Calmore, Totton, leaping salmon and an old bridge

9 March 2017

When we left the wilds of Testwood Lakes it was a bit of a culture shock to find ourselves in an industrial estate. Of course, I knew Calmore Industrial Estate was there but, after more than an hour of walking along rural lanes and tracks, to be thrust into the world of huge concrete and metal sheds and warehouses took some getting used to. Despite the map on my phone I lost my bearings a little and, for a moment, didn’t know which way to walk. At least there were pavements here, once I’d worked out which way to go, we were soon on the move again.  Continue reading Calmore, Totton, leaping salmon and an old bridge

Care For A Walk, mud, pubs and sunshine – first published 22 March 2014

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The Care For A Walk fifteen mile hike in 2014 had begun with mud and fallen trees. There were blisters too, thankfully not on my feet. It was drizzly and wet, not the best weather for walking and we’d stopped to let some of the tail walkers catch up. At this point, we still had the hard miles ahead but everyone was still in surprisingly good spirits.
Continue reading Care For A Walk, mud, pubs and sunshine – first published 22 March 2014

Fifteen miles with Care For A Walk – first published 22 March 2014

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Starting the day with a seven thirty pub visit is not a normal Saturday morning for me. In 2014 this was exactly what I was doing though because it was the day of the annual Care For A Walk hike through the New Forest in aid of MacMillan Cancer Care. Of course there was no actual alcohol involved, at least not for me, although some of the more hard core in the group did have pints of beer. Ok, so I did have a bacon sandwich but I didn’t have the coffee on offer, mainly because there are only so many trees in the forest to pee behind. Continue reading Fifteen miles with Care For A Walk – first published 22 March 2014

Lost with Care For A Walk 2016

Photo by Pete Luke
Photo by Pete Luke

18 March 2016

It’s that time of year again. Time for a nice little fifteen mile stroll with the Care For A Walk team to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Care. So there we were again, eight o’clock on a Saturday morning eating bacon rolls in the New Inn in Totton. For once Commando wasn’t actually eating. He was going for an eighteen mile run while I was walking. The Manchester Marathon is coming up and he’s turned into an elite athlete these days. Bacon rolls were most certainly not on the menu, at least not before a run. Continue reading Lost with Care For A Walk 2016