Ordinarily, we would plan our day in detail. Indeed that’s what happens every day - these things don’t just randomly evolve you know! Last time, the first time we visited the New Forest, I downloaded walks, planned destinations and scheduled the day. Now of course, I know that the entire area is stunning and it just doesn't matter one jot where one parks, start from or walk to - it's going to be delightful no matter what!
First though we need juice, so having walked past Tesco on our way to Poole we drive to it this time to fill up, saving several pounds on all the other nearby forecourts, even though it costs 10 minutes to do it. Then we’re on our way to Lyndhust, my chosen area of walking today. Almost, anyway, as it’s a nightmare traffic bottle-neck with seemingly nowhere to stop, so we pass right through and instead park up in nearby Brockenhurst which is altogether calmer.
Last year we started counting ponies and gave up after the first 100 or so. This year, we’re well over 100 in the first thirty minutes, they are everywhere but surprisingly not so many youngsters, just a few.
As previously mentioned, it’s not possible to design a bad walk in the New Forest, so I just keep to a sort-of arc, mostly cinder track as the recent rains- have made for lots of boggy areas, although we certainly find some and challenge our waterproof boots a few times.
We're pleased to watch a couple of Damselfies (or Dragonflies?) mating.
Approaching Lindhurst on shanks’s we get to see some lovely old houses before commencing our return journey on the other hemicircle of the notional arc. We’re mindful it’s beyond lunchtime, but stop off at Pig, a famous hotel in the area. Curiously their “light lunch” offering is a no-choice menu, and as we’re not dressed to go into the dining room, we do without, not fancying meatballs on Italian flat-bread.
We drive home instead, and order afternoon tea on the hotel terrace which is just lovely.
Having failed to get up-close and personal with the sea yet, we decide “this is the moment” and dip a toe in - and quickly remove it, the sea is shockingly cold and uninviting!
Another circuit of the town and we head back as I need to work for a couple of hours. Work like this is pretty much as good as it gets - apparently Thursday evening is Jazz evening and in the garden there’s a band setting up then playing as we’re sat on our balcony, enjoying the fading sun, then later a rather nice Chardonnay and snacks - making work so much more appealing.
Changing for dinner, we finish the wine, pack up the tech and then cross town back to 1805, which we already know is a very good Chinese restaurant, but tonight they surpass themselves, it’s all totally fabulous.
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