I decided it was time to update my camera from a Canon EOS 70D to the latest model in the same class, the EOS 90D. At the same time I decided to invest in a macro lens, which has been on my wish list for a little while. Naturally, I needed to give it a test run, so Sunday morning I took a little walk around the Botanic Gardens for the obligatory macro lens flower photo shoot. Here are my favourites.
A walk with Em in Belair National Park. Lots of golden wattle - after all, it is officially Wattle Day. Busy bees captured at work. A lovely day.
0200 I have slept really well until now. I’m having trouble getting back to sleep so I read for a bit and take another valerian tablet.
0530 Coffee time. I’m checking trains and discover industrial action planned for today. But I don’t think it will affect me.
I just remembered something from my visit to Stow-in-the-Wold that I didn’t mention. One of the gift stores I visited had the most amazing warm spicy smell of orange and cinnamon. It embraced you as soon as you entered. Very festive.
0630 Breakfast and it’s quiet again. Just how I like it.
0750 I leave for the train station. Today I want to visit part of The New Forest. Em had recommended this and I am keen to check it out. It’s a big area so I can only pick one part. I have decided to walk around a village called Brockenhurst.
0823 Great Western Railway service to Bristol Temple Meads, calling at Portsmouth & Southsea, Fratton, Cosham, Farnham and Southampton Central. There are lots of seats reserved on this train.
0907 I alight at Southampton Central. It’s chilly while I’m not moving and there is light cloud.
0926 The South Western Railway service to Bournemouth calling at Brockenhurst.
0943 I alight at Brockenhurst and immediately start the first of two walks I have chosen.
The first walk takes me through woodlands and forest as well as around a large open area with horses grazing. The amazing thing about The New Forest is that there are horses and deer roaming freely. The towns have gates and cattle grids to contain them and/or keep them out but other than that they are “wild”.
The trees are all golden in colour and the ground is a massive burnt gold carpet of fallen leaves. It’s a very monochromatic experience as you can see from the photos. At parts I am walking through woods totally alone. Towards the last quarter though, there are many of other people having a Saturday morning walk.
1150 I finish my first walk. 9 km. I’m a bit weary but I want to continue to my next walk. I stop for a drink and snack in the village first. The cloud is almost gone.
1200 I start the second walk. This begins in the town and then takes me through completely different landscape. Open fields with heather and more grazing horses. We do enter some woodland with streams.
1340 I finish my second walk. 8.6 km. My feet are killing me.
1343 I arrive back at the train station just as the right train arrives … I think. I get onboard anyway and cross my fingers.
1344 We depart and it’s the right train. Phew! Now to rest my legs.
1357 We arrive back at Southampton Central.
1405 Change trains and depart Southampton Central.
1450 I arrive back at Portsmouth Harbour.
1500 I get back to the hotel and have a long hot shower. Unfortunately, there’s no bath in this hotel and I think that’s going to hamper my recovery. I spend some time looking at photos and resting.
1600 It’s beautiful and clear outside and the sun is beginning to set. I decide to head outside to walk around. I get some nice pictures of the sunset. Although it’s cold, it feels very much like the seaside.
1630 I’m exhausted. Today’s walks have worn me out and my legs are really sore. I’m going to relax in bed with my legs up and doze off in front of the TV.
0540 I have slept really well. I think it must be still only 0200 or 0300 and I’m surprised to see it’s past 0500. As soon as I arrived last night I turned down the central heating so my room has been nice and cool for sleeping. Rooms that were too warm were a real problem last holiday but this time it’s been perfect. Breakfast doesn’t begin until 0730 so I may as well doze a bit longer.
0620 I didn’t really sleep but I have rested a bit more. Time for coffee. The selection of coffees, teas, hot chocolate, water, biscuits (and sherry!) in the room is excellent. It was cold when I arrived last night and my weather app tells me it feels like 3 degrees right now.
0730 I head down for breakfast. I fill up; I have a long walk ahead of me today.
0800 I do a bit of planning and pack my bag with the things I think I’ll need.
0845 I start a walk using my app. The walk starts through grassy fields. The temperature is brisk but I’m feeling fine and before long I‘m just walking in t-shirt. I pass a field of sheep and they all stand perfectly still on queue as I walk past. After a while the walk takes me across recently ploughed fields. The mud cakes to my boots. Again, I‘m grateful I invested in decent boots for this trip. Also, I‘m thankful to Robyn who gave me great advice on my last trip to wear two layers of socks; no blisters this year!
At times it’s hard to know if I‘m going in the right direction. The footpaths are not all clearly marked. I put my trust in the app and it‘s really good for directing me. Sometimes I just head where it tells me and hope for the best. A couple of times I head the wrong way and need to find my way back. The walk takes me through a couple of small villages. It also takes me across a field of cows. Walking among sheep doesn‘t bother me but the cows stare me down and I steer clear of them as much as I can. About 3/4 into the walk the clouds are getting darker. Luckily I packed a spray jacket. Before long I need to put it on. The showers aren’t too heavy but they persist on and off until the end of the walk. My trousers are pretty damp by the end.
1420 I get back, 20.6 km later. Surprisingly, I don’t feel too bad. I took water with me but I haven‘t felt hungry; the big breakfast I had has served me well. I have make a coffee before slipping into a nice hot Radox bath. Afterwards, I clean my boots before the remaining mud dries.
1500 It‘s still early so I head out to check out the street. I had the impression that there were lots of interesting shops in the Main Street but on closer inspection, there‘s not anything I find worth buying.
1640 I sit down in the bar by the fire to work on my blog.
1900 Time for dinner. Blue cheese and walnut Soufflee, chicken supreme and Creme brûlée. All extremely delicious. The food in this hotel is excellent.
2020 It‘s been a big day. Time for bed I think.
Barren.
White walls.
Shadowy silhouette of the woods in the distance.
The incredible, peaceful alone-ness only occasionally punctuated with others.
Actually, I’m glad of that.
I could get lost up here.
In either body or mind.
A soft veil of white mist embraces me as I walk through the woods.
Trees brandished with gold and orange.
Gnarled branches, now naked, reach to the whiteness above.
The sound of their fallen leaves crunching and squelching beneath my feet.
The occasional squirrel darts across my path.
One or two birds swoop or flitter away (that feels a bit like a Snow White moment).
I don’t want this experience to end.
Emily and I spent a lovely Father's Day together today. First up was a photo stroll through the cool Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens. Then a massive but delicious lunch at Seasonal in Hahndorf.
