0500 I have slept really well. At about 0500 my brain is getting restless. I hear some sounds in the hotel and I don’t think I’ll be getting back to sleep. But that’s OK. I make a coffee and listen to some music for a while.
0630 I can see light sneaking in between the curtains. I look out and there is a soft misty light. Should I head out? Stupid question! I check the temperature; “feels like 4 degrees”. That sounds like a challenge to me. I hastily get dressed and head out.
0700 I walk towards the pavilion and the park. I think it’s my best bet to get some photos before it’s too light and/or the mist lifts (later I will be proven wrong). I capture some nice soft images.
0800 I head down to breakfast. It’s quiet; only a few people.
0900 The mist is still around. In fact, it appears to be a bit heavier. This is an opportunity too good to ignore. I get better prepared and head out again. This time I will aim for the woods. I remember the way from yesterday. In 15 min I reach the edge of the woods and start my ascent. Soon I have been enveloped in a soft, quiet veil of white mist. This is magical. My path is punctuated by the occasional bird or squirrel. There are people too; mainly walking their dogs. But not too many to spoil the solitude of this walk. I pause from time to time to take in the moment. It’s a beautiful experience. How lucky are these people to be able to enjoy it so easily.
0930 I reach the top end of the woods. This is the open top of the hill and it’s just as magical but in a very different way. Eerie. Like moors. Again there are the occasional people with their dogs. They say to me sadly “not a great day for photos, is it?”. I correct them. It’s an AWESOME day for soft light and haunting images. I’d like to make my way back to Solomon’s Temple but up here it’s very hard to see and my phone is not giving me an accurate location. You could get lost up here. So, I keep the edge of the wood in sight as I explore.
1000 It’s time to start heading back. I make my way to the beginning of the woods and start my descent. I want to take in the experience, so I put my large camera away. I can stroll. The mist hasn’t lifted at all and the way down is just as magical.
1045 I’m back in the town and it’s starting to drizzle. I should make my way back to the hotel. On the way I pass some spent fireworks. I get a sharp memory jolt to my childhood. I think it’s from Australia; back when we had a firework nights.
1100 Time for a coffee. I desperately want to see my photos to check that they’re OK. I had to take my glasses off for much of the time because they kept getting fogged up. For I know, all the pictures could be hopelessly out of focus. But they’re not. I’m very happy with the results (see my Grin Low Wood and At the Top of Grin Low Wood posts to see them).
1220 I thought it would be heavily raining by now, but it’s still OK. I decide not to waste the time and head out again. I have an alternative walk to follow. It starts of well. Then I take a lucky wrong turn which takes me by another wood. But ultimately, it’s a dead and I have to back track. Back on track I head until I reach what appears to be another dead end. This is confusing and I don’t feel like going cross country to sort it out. Clearly, I should have loaded my walking app with local maps first. I will be more prepared next time. I walk back to try to pick up the track further on. It takes me on a nice walk through open fields.
1325 I get a brief glimpse of blue sky. I notice more birds. I had wondered whether I would hear as much birdsong this trip. Luckily they haven’t all migrated quite yet.
1400 I’ve hit another dead end. The walk description is too vague and the map is not detailed enough. I decide to abandon the walk. My feet are killing me anyway. Instead I pack away my camera and have a nice stroll back into town.
1430 I grab a sandwich for a late lunch back at the pavilion before making my way to the hotel.
1500 LONG HOT BATH. Ahh.
1530 I work on my blog and photos.
1800 I head down to dinner. I’m the only one in the restaurant. I have scallops and rump of lamb. It’s starting to rain properly for the first time today.
1815 I hear more fireworks outside.
1900 Another set of fireworks go off. This time right in front of the hotel. But there don’t appear to be that many people watching. The fireworks go on for over 1/2 hour. That’s a lot of fireworks for hardly anyone.
1945 I think it will be another early night tonight.
