This one also ties in with getting to know the local area which seemed quite important as we have only moved to the area recently in July.
We got married in Balmer Lawn Brockenhurst so it seemed quite apt to start this one with a walk in Brockenhurst! The walk was arranged by Spice (our first walk with Spice) and started in the car park opposite Balmer Lawn.
I was a bit apprehensive this morning when I was woken up by a loud rumble of thunder followed by a lot of heavy rain! I'm usually a fair weather walker and tend to stay indoors in such weather, but I had just purchased a new pair of waterproof trousers so it would seem a waste not to be able to use them!
At the start of the walk we saw a pig wandering over the road, at this time of year they let the pigs roam free to eat the acorns which are poisonous to the cows. The New Forest ponies aren't too keen on this as they are scared of the pigs.
We walked along the edge of Brockenhurst and over the railway bridge onwards to the oldest church in the New Forest. Walking through the graveyard we saw the graves of men that had died in the 1st world war in local military hospitals, one of which was at the Balmer Lawn. Next stop was the grave of Harry Mills more commonly known as Brusher Mills the local snake catcher!
We then walked into Roydon woods which is a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) and stopped on a log for refreshments. We passed the residence of WH Hudson a local naturalist. After 4 miles we stopped at a local pub The Hobler for drinks, a chat and a well earned rest.
After a quick dash over the main road the rain began, steady at first but after the golf course and into the open air it became torrential and very boggy! The sky very dark so we knew the rain was set to stay. As the puddles became larger I remembered watching the scene on the Vicar of Dibley where she jumps in a puddle and disappears!
We continued on further and then back round into Brockenhurst, the rain still coming down and we all getting more and more soaked! One of the group made a comment that the rain would stop and the sun would come out as we were driving home! I think we were all starting to get a bit fed up of the rain now.
The sight of the car park at the end was a good one, I was getting quite tired and just as we thought the sun came out and the rain stopped. It was a nice walk and I was glad we did it despite the rain. I learnt a few things on the walk, you can't disappear in puddles no matter how many you jump in and my new waterproof trousers were very good at keeping me dry although my raincoat was not so good as I was soaked through! So now to think about which walk to do next....
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