Another SPR Expedition – this time with a difference – an evening walk in the New Forest. So meeting at Millets Farm at 16.30 to set off . Steve plus six of us walking today.
We parked by the Royal Oak at Fritham and by the time a couple of people had used the toilet at the back of the pub we set off at 18.30. We started along a track and then turned to the south west and proceeded by pacing 1000 metres. Really pleased that my 70 double paces per 100 metres is still accurate.
A turn off to the right and into the forest and along a wide fire break track. The path was muddy in places but not too bad. We had seen two deer just as we were reaching our parking place but only eyes amongst the trees at this point.
An abrupt turn to the north west and a surprise adventure! Latchmore Brook needed to be crossed, a deep brackish strip of water – a bridge would have been far too easy! Instead a fallen tree, double trunk – well Steve walked across – this was about 6 foot or more above the water. My method involved crawling along the widest trunk and then having to lower myself down, sliding down my front. Well I survived!
A bit more wood and then out on to open land on the ridge above Alderhill Inclosure. Unfortunately it was a rather cloudy night which is a pity as it was a full moon – a beaver moon. Apparently called this as it marked the time when native Americans set their beaver traps. After about two kilometres we turn back into the wood.
Boggy on this stretch and Steve is the first to slip over, real care is needed. We’re going almost east now and into the depths of the forest – more eyes! Then to turn north for a kilometre before the next exciting experience!
Two members of the group had been doing navigation training and we were going to do a section off of the path and just through the forest- roots, fallen logs, branches and bogs!
Steve and Debbie set off on a bearing until they were told to stop and adjust their position by Annie and Maddie, then we all walked to meet up as a group again. Well not too far before we have some water – just a bit of a ditch – until one of the others said I’m stuck, sinking !
We’d hit a bog. The first two had got through, I was okay and gave the stuck person a hand , another member of the group tried to help from the other side and sunk herself. Not sure how I managed it but I remained unscathed apart from aching the next day where I’d pulled the two of them out of the bog!
Okay for a while but now accompanied by owl hoots – sadly none were spotted. Another deep ditch with a stream at the bottom, short diversion and a slide down one bank some quick stepping on rocks to minimise soaking feet and then a scramble and helping hand up the next bank. Some good team work developing within the group. Onward through the forest and the head torch which has been very bright runs out! Thank goodness for phone torches.
The only photo I managed to take having climbed over a tree trunk – an amazing bract fungus.
The next stream has a bridge and we come out by a small lake and the eyes turn into actual moving deer. They run parallel to us and we are able to watch for several minutes. Not long and we follow a metalled track back to the minibus. It’s now about 22.20.
Several people get into the bus with very soggy feet and rather muddier than when they started out. A good journey back and back home by 00.05!
Forgot to turn both apps off straight away so the route goes by the lake and track back to the start. I also realise that the OS map shows distance but doesn’t allow for height gains and lost. So by the OS the route was 12 km but by the Fitbit 17km.
Great walk and a good experience.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 