On another cold and bright morning we drove into the forest by way of Brockenhurst.
From the Hinchelsea car park I photographed a somewhat misty moorland landscape.
The winterbourne pool just outside the town had iced over,
as had some of the terrain
leading to further distant scenes.
Rhinefield Road,
where bracken provides burnished autumn colour,
crosses Ober Water with its clear reflections. Jackie parked nearby to enable me to wander around the
frosted banks. She moved on the the
Puttles Bridge
car park where she noticed a sign indicating the Ober Water Trail. Naturally I walked along this. It is marked by very helpful posts bearing colour coded strips – red for one and a half miles and yellow for one mile. I took the yellow option, giving me a two mile total. The track was mostly flat with occasional variety provided by
tree roots
and mud.
Along the way I enjoyed sunlit views of red-brown bracken and autumn leaves, some decorating sawn off stumps; fallen lumber logs; backlit foliage; and tree shadows stretching across the forest floor.
The trail clearly runs alongside the eponymous water, but one needed to go off piste to see it. I am not yet ready for that, since this was in itself my longest post-operative trek.
The yellow marker disappears from the post at a bridge crossing the now visible stream.
On reaching the bridge I noticed an equestrian quartet approaching.
Realising they would be crossing the river by this route, I crossed first and stood, poised, to one side,
ready to tracked their clattering over the planks and
gentle thudding off into the forest.
Leaning on the bridge, I took one last look at the water before retracing my steps.
The sight of Jackie’s Modus in the car park had a rather similar impact as that of Big Ben coming up to the end of a London marathon. Either is welcome, but you know you are going to be hard put to make it.
Those who have been concerned about Nugget’s apparent absence will be pleased to know that, although not photographed, he was about this morning. From the comfort of my passenger seat I did, however, spot
one of his relatives. Can you spot him?
This evening we dined on a second helping of the Chinese Takeaway with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Minervois.
Such a beautiful walk through the forest. Love your photos today.
x
Thank you very much, Melanie. X
Are you sure you are not overdoing it on your walks, Derrick? Even your incredible reflection photos are not worth endangering your health (I am sorry for being a Jewish mother, but I can’t help being concerned).
Nugget’s cousin is a little dot in the very center of the photo.
Thanks very much for your concern, Dolly. That was my limit. I’ll take it easy for a couple of days. Well spotted.
You are very welcome, Derrick. Be well!
Congrats on the longest trek so far – you did really well considering roots and mud not to mention ponies. Your comment reflecting on the Modus and Big Ben gave me a chuckle. Glad to hear the news of Nugget and to spot his relative.
Thanks very much, Pauline. Well spotted. 🙂
The reflection photos are magnificent. What a lovely morning walk. And I’m delighted that Nugget is well!
Many thanks, Sue
Wow such beautiful land
Thank you very much, More
You are welcome
These are beautiful, magical pictures, Derrick. That first one has enviable light in it and the one with the frosted oak leaves is captivating. I expected Mole and Ratty to appear at some point.
Thanks very much, Lisa. I’ll look out for them next time.
Nature is beautiful in every season.
Indeed. Thanks very much, Rupali
Gorgeous winter photos
Thank you very much, Sheree
Pleasure Derrick, I look forward to your daily posts.
That’s lovely, Sheree. Many thanks.
😎
I love the reflections and the lighting, Derrick. Thanks for taking us along!
Thanks very much, Jill.
There are those colors of the moors I so appreciate! I liked to see your landscapes with a little frost, as well.
Thanks very much, Liz
Thank YOU for bringing those bright bits of beauty to my day.
🙂
So glad Nugget was spotted and is okay! His robin-relative seems to like to be center-stage/center-of-attention, just like Nugget does sometimes! 😉 😀
So happy for your long, photo-fruitful walk! And thank you for taking us along with you via your camera! 🙂
Please be careful leaning on bridges! Sometimes those bridges look rickety!
I just love your leaves, reflection, ice, trees, shadows, etc., photos! 🙂
And it’s nice to see that man out walking his dog (in the fourth photo from the top)! Coop and I get out to walk even on the coldest, wettest, snowiest, or iciest days. We just take care not to slip or slide. 😉 And sometimes Coops wants to make it a shorter walk when the rain is falling hard on him. 🙂
HUGS for you and Jackie!!! 🙂
TWEETS for Nugget!!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Coops seems a sensible dog. 🙂 X
He’s more sensible than me! 😉 😀
There were too many delightful pictures to pick out a favourite today.
🙂 Thanks very much, Tootlepedal.
Congratulations on such a long walk today, Derrick. I hope you are not suffering for it. Your photographs of the frosty forest are phenomenal!
Thanks very much, Clare. I’m fine today.
Good 🙂
It’s been another cold one here. Just love how you still find colour in these winter days.
Thanks very much, Gary.
Well done on the walk. People with two healthy knees would do well to not take them for granted.
Indeed. Thanks very much, Oglach.
Yes, after zooming in, I found Nugget’s relative. What a lovely walk you had and seeing the horse riders was a bonus.
It certainly was a bonus, Sylvia. Thanks very much.
I like the bridge shot. The lines and shadow lines are amazing.
Thanks very much, Cindy.
It is balm for one’s soul to walk among trees.
Yes. Thanks very much, Anne.
What a gorgeous selection of photos! I loved them! Thank you for sharing and hope you recovered from the long walk.
Thank you very much, Lisa. I’m fine today.
Glad to hear!
Having been an equestrian in my youth, I realized when I saw your title how much I miss being around horses. This post was quite a treat – combining horses and forest. I can imagine being there. And I love that shot of the old tree standing over the icy pool.
Thanks very much, Joanna. I’m pleased to have revived memories.
Beautiful photographs, Derrick!
Many thanks, John
So many beautiful things to enjoy in this set of photos. I especially love that old tree down by the water!
Thanks very much, Lavinia
What a beautiful area it is. I can see that during our visits we have only scratched the surface.
Thanks very much, Leslie. I’ve passed Puttles Bridge many times without knowing about the trail.
It’s quite the juggling act when deciding how far to push ourselves when we’re on the mend, never forgetting that no matter how far we’ve gone there’s always the walk back! 😀 Well done. 🙂
You would know, Widders. Many thanks 🙂
Excellent sequence. We have been with snow since Halloween. Not a lot but it never completely melted away, a slow accumulation with some very cold nights & mild afternoons.
Thanks very much, Joseph. We have been fortunate so far.
I love the photo of the bridge and the frosted trees and tree reflections on the water. But, try as I may, I could not find Nugget or his companion. Can you give us a clue?
Nugget is not there. The very last picture has another robin more or less in the middle, perched on a fallen branch. Thanks very much, Jan.
An idyllic woodland English landscape photo essay, Mr Knight. You are a modern British Courier and Ives though I’m not sure who of the duo you’d be. Maybe Ives? And Bravo for your long walk!
Eponymous – great word! I enjoyed the frosted oak leaves and reflection shots.
Thanks very much, Crystal.