Yesterday I walked from Linwood in the New Forest to Romsey – it is the 5th stage of The Games Way and the last stage I need to record walking instructions for.
Linwood to Romsey
With Felix in Estonia and other walking friends otherwise engaged I was on my own. I enjoy walking alone so this isn’t a problem, but it does mean I sing to myself and talk to an awful lot of animals along the way! Consequently this blog post will consist mostly of photos of all the animals. Excluded from the photos are dogs and their humans. I met a beautiful 2-year old black labrador called Bertie in these woods:
Bluebell Woods, home to Bertie the labrador
…but he was a bit camera shy and didn’t want to be in the photo. Young boy black labradors are my absolute favourite – I love the way they approach you full of bravado and then at the very last second chicken out and run back to their human. This one was very handsome, even with a big lump of doggy drool on his nose!
Before I got very far into the walk I saw a deer about 20m away.
Friendly deer, just outside of Linwood
Clearly we were going in the same direction and I wasn’t presenting much of a threat because I was buzzed by the same deer for about 20 minutes. This has never happened to me before, they usually scarper as soon as they get a whiff of human.
Another deer!
Then another deer rocked up and we all parted company as I entered an enclosure on the way to Hollyhatch cottage.
Hollyhatch cottage
After a bit of a climb I found myself on Fritham plain and eventually Fritham itself, home of the most excellent Royal Oak pub. The pub is famed for its real ale, ploughman’s and I’ve been reliably informed by @happy_rambler – its pork pies!
After a refreshing pint of Beach Blonde I carried on towards Nomansland, surrounded by ponies and their lovely foals.
New Forest Foal
Despite my very best efforts I managed to get lost in the woods (this happens *every* time) and so was about half an hour away from where I wanted to be.
Navigation FAIL
I wish I knew the secret of successfully navigating through woods. So, although the official route goes down a certain path, I don’t think I’ve ever quite managed to get it right!
Getting lost in the New forest isn't so bad...
I followed a path that crosses some fields by a church and then through Deazle wood (without getting lost) out onto Plaitford Common. I had never heard of this spot before I started walk2012 but it has become one of my favourites.
Pretty Plaitford Common
As well as all the ponies, there are cattle and a herd of donkeys, including this very friendly one who thought he might be able to help me with a banana.
Beautiful friendly donkey on Plaitford Common
From Furzely the walk goes across Half Moon common and up a long gravel path (Bricky Lake Lane) past Paultons golf centre and down the A36 for a few hundred metres. This bit of road is unpleasant and I’m hoping that Paultons golf club will let us use their road instead, it will be much queiter and feel safer.
A half-hour or so walk through a bluebell edged path in more woods on the edge of a farm and then I joined the Test Way, which heads due north in a straight line with trees on the left and fields on the right all the way to Romsey.
Busy bee just before the Test Way
Thoughout the day’s walk I had been serenaded by hundreds of birds (think Snow White x 100) including this little fellow:
Bird on a wire
…and if young male labradors can be boisterous, they’ve got nothing on these young lads who greeted me most enthusiastically!
"Oh wot, just cuz you can wave those 2 feet in the air, you think you better than us, is that it? Put them down man, you're a flippin joke"
Its not just young boys that show off though is it? Even grown up dads need someone to impress:
"Ignore your father children, he's just being silly"
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Hello beautiful,
How wonderful to read your post and of all your adventures with the ANIMALZ.
I especially liked the deer who buzzed you, the helpful DONKEY and the talk of BERTIE. I also must confess that your Dr Doolittle tendencies leave me a little weak at the knees.
What is not to love about a man who can make friends with deer, birds, donkeys, bees, cows, and labradors, and who will surrender the inside of his jacket to a pigeon in need?
You are my hero x I hope your back is OK after all this walking x