This morning we visited Shelly and Ron with a birthday present for our brother in law. We enjoyed a pleasant conversation over coffee and biscuits, then returned home for lunch, after which we took a forest drive.
Hightown Lane begins alongside a stream at ground level. Here, as in all the other lane verges
the wild plants are fading and turning to seed.
A pair of field horses, eyes protected by masks, stood nose to tail offering each other twitching tails as further insect deterrents.
Gradually the sinuous trail winds uphill,
cleaving its way through ever steeper dappled banks bearing mossy trees with exposed talon-roots.
Residents of the properties at the top of the slopes, like many others, have laid log barriers to prevent visitors parking on their
woodland.
While one grey pony stretched over Cross Lanes Chapel graveyard wall seeking greener grass at Mockbeggar, another ambled over the crossroads. Perhaps other such equines have tilted the railings over the years.
It was the turn of donkeys with foals to hold up traffic at Ibsley.
In vain a pair of hopeful hounds sped after a hare never to be overtaken on Blissford Hill.
This evening Jackie finished last night’s Red Chilli takeaway and I enjoyed a thin pepperoni pizza with fresh salad. My wife drank more of the Pinot Grigio and I drank Torre de Ferro Reserva Dao 2017.
Lovely woods.
Thanks very much, Rupali
It always amazes me, how such large trees can survive with such exposed ‘talon roots’. Astonishing.
I love today’s title and header image, which illustrates it so perfectly!
A lovely weather vane – but this one is not on a thatched roof, so not the signature of the thatcher?!
We both like that you remember the thatched one. Weather vanes seem to be the choice of the buyer. Thanks very much, Emma.
What would y do without your forest drives?
Not much. And to think that just 5 years ago I walked miles across moorland. Thanks very much, Pat.
Getting old is a bite.
🙂
Missing our country drives. Well, all drives really. The whole of N.S.W. & VIC are still in lock-down with Covid – Delta 5km travel restrictions. Most places we visit are 10 to 20km away. And, because of big city suburbs with defiant residents, we shall continue in lock-down at least until mid October.
I enjoy your drives. They do help. I was thinking the same thing about the fence before I even read that far. I like the weather vane. UK TV show “Escape to the Country” often show different weather vanes on their travels to find a client a new place to live. Great Post, Derrick.
Jackie wonders why Escape to the Country would interest Australians, Chrissy. Thanks very much.
My husband and I are also big fans of Escape to the Country.
Wow.
We enjoy the scenery and the old houses.
Norm and I have watched Escape to the country since it came on Australia TV years ago. Also Bargain Hunt. Norm was born in Surry and immigrated here when he was 9 with his parents and 3 siblings. He’s only been back once to visit some of his family between connect flights to France on a 3 week management or project for RAAF. We love the countryside there. We don’t have colourful fields or one lane roads between villages. We don’t have villages or those beautiful period buildings. We have very few historic buildings and they’re only 200 years old. Why wouldn’t we be interested in UK shows like that? We also prefer English mystery/detective shows. I’m also a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. 😉
Keeping our dreams to visit alive.
You have explained this so well, Chrissy. I believe the oldest house in Australia was Captain Cook’s – shipped over from here.
I’m not sure of the oldest but I believe Captain Cooks Cottage is in Melbourne but I don’t think he ever lived in it. There were a few cottages built on the Hawkesbury River near where our son lives. Every visit time we visited our son, a small pieces had fallen off one of the older cottages. For a long time the floor and roofing were just balancing on the brick chimney until it final collapsed https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5643029/Sydney-landmark-collapses-stood-150-years.html on Friday April 13th 2018. it was 150 years old after 10 times under water by floods.
What a shame about the old house.
I love your poetic descriptors are much as the images.
Thank you so much, Cindy
Lovely mysterious play of shadows along the trail.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Horses seem to always find a place to “lean over” to reach that elusive morsel of greenery! A beauty of a pair of draft horses coupled with the other images makes, as per usual, a delightful gallery you have shared. Thanks, Derrick!
Thank you so much, Maj
Lovely shots today, Derrick. Thanks for taking us along. Dinner sounds yummy!
Thanks very much, Jill. Jackie thought you would like the lanes.
Yes Derrick … the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence …
Glad you got that, Ivor. Thanks a lot
You do live in an “English” paradise. Horses and greenery. 🍷
Thank you so much, Brian
Mossy trees with exposed talon-roots entice my imagination. I would love to spend time among those dappled banks, gray ponies, donkeys, and shaggy field horses. Thank you for sharing them all with us.
Much appreciated, JoAnna. You were alongside me while I photographed those banks
🙂 Thanks for bringing me along.
Thank you Derrick for a wonderful journey today.
Thank you very much, too, Gary.
A forest drive sounds lovely. I’m also noticing signs of approaching autumn. I think most seeds and seed pods are beautiful. It’s lovely seeing the horses and those meandering trails.
Thank you very much, Alys. Your appreciation is valuable
I agree that the seeds and seed pods of late August/early September are beautiful.
This has been an interesting outing through pretty views and narrated beautifully. You would make an excellent tour guide, Derrick.
Much appreciated, Anne. Many thanks
I’d sign up for his tour!
Thank you so much, too, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I bet those railings have been bent by many a horse. 🙂
Things are beginning to look like early autumn now there.
Thank you so much, Lavinia
A beautiful, thoughtful, description of the end of the English summer.
Thank you very much, John. I appreciate that
I love the idea of the pony leaning over the wall to eat the churchyard grass.
Thanks very much, Helen.
Fab forest photos
Thanks a lot, Sheree
One delightful shot after another today, Derrick–and I like your comments, too.
Once again, the lanes, the horses and donkeys, that weather vane–I can’t pick a favorite.
Thanks very much, Merril. I like to give a difficult choice 🙂
😀
You gave me my morning chuckle when i saw the opening picture, “The Grass is Always Greener…!”
I’m pleased, GP. Thanks very much
Looks like a wonderful day. Have a good week.
Thanks a lot, Mrs W
Your welcome.
Went fro a drive of my own today – the verges are definitely autumnal now aren’t they. Another great tour of the forset.
Thanks a lot, Quercus
nice post Derrick.
Thanks a lot, Andrew
Your forest drives are lovely and good for you for sharing your appreciation of nature. I love the unique weather vane.
Thank you very much, Eugi
You’re most welcome, Derrick.
That header photo is just priceless!
Thanks very much, Liz. It brought us to a stop 🙂
You’re welcome, Derrick. That was a photo op not to be missed!
Another lovely drive out.
My friend has a leaping fish on her weather vane, very odd.
Perhaps she has a lot of floods. Thanks very much, Sue.
PS. I was very puzzled when she first gave me instructions to her house, “Just look for the house with the fish on the roof!”
🙂
Another lovely day 😍
Thank you very much, Ribana
Run, rabbit, run!
Thanks a lot, Laurie