On an increasingly warm late morning we took Jessie for a forest drive and brunched at The Potting Shed at Hyde.
The heather-filled landscape off Holmsley Passage reminded our friend of her childhood home in Scotland.
Ponies crowded along the road outside Burley.
We tracked a veteran vehicle until entered The Elm Tree car park.
At South Gorley the usual donkeys played with the traffic.
Ponies on the green at North Gorley enjoyed no protection from marauding flies but themselves;
others found shade at Frogham Hill;
a further group forced traffic onto the green on our way back through North Gorley.
After another afternoon’s pleasant conversation we dined on tender roast lamb; crispy roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding; crunchy carrots; firm cauliflower and Brussels sprouts with meaty gravy. I finished the merlot. Later we reminisced more.
Sounds like a lot of horses, ponies,and donkeys providing entertainment. Nice meal.
Thanks very much, Pat
What a lovely day you shared. I’m guessing the lunch at the Potting Shed was more substantial than the one I shared.
Thanks very much, Sue. It was good, and will get its own post next time we go.
I look forward to it.
Lovely ponies! 😊
I love your closeups of the horses. #s 1. 9, 10 especially!
Thank you very much, Judy
Like bees (or flies)to a honey pot, the ponies are sticking together …
Thanks very much, Ivor
Wonderful, Derrick. Don’t forget that nostalgia’s not what it used to be.
Thanks very much, Mike
Sounds delightful sharing where you are with someone with a fresh perspective. Always stimulating and insightful 😊
Be careful, donkeys! I’m glad the ponies have each other.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
It’s like you go on vacation every drive you take. The ponies are beautiful and they look healthy too. Another delightful drive and meal Derrick!
Thank you so much, Diane
Warm weather, a forest drive, a lovely brunch, a heather-field landscape, ponies on the roadside, a wonderful dinner, a great merlot and pleasant conversation. That sounds like a most perfect day to me!
Yep. Thanks very much, Donna
You could post a different photo of the heather and the bracken off Holmsley Passage every day and I would never be sated.
Thank you very much, John. I’ll post one each time we go up there
Beautiful animals, interesting and stimulating company, and a good meal. What a bonus!
Thank you very much, Anne
What a beautiful day with your friend!
So many lovely photos! So many excellent equines to eye (observe)! 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️
It sounds like a lovely day, and I’m sure Jessie enjoyed the tour–and reminiscing over food and wine.
Thank you very much, Merril
What a fantastic tour! Thanks for taking me along!!
Thanks very much, GP
Beautiful photos of the ponies. Thank you taking us along with you on your lovely forest drive and dinner sounds delicious.
Thank you very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
How I envy your guest! Wonderful to be able to talk and reminisce.
Thank you so much, Laurie
I have no idea how you guys manage to eat that much at night. I would be unable to sleep. What’s you secret?
Not much else during the day. Thanks very much, Bridget
that makes sense, we eat like chipmunks during the day 🙂
It sounds like a beautiful outing and good time reminiscing with Jessie followed by another 5 star dinner by Jackie.
I loved seeing the ponies! It is the season of sleek shiny coats and unfortunately, flies.
Thank you very much, Lavinia
Looking at all the flies on the horses made me feel decidedly itchy myself. The power of suggestion!
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
Terrific set of equine photos.
Thank you very much, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick.
Very nice collection of photos. With your ponies running free range, do you have a problem of them wondering into people’s yards and gardens, etc.?
Cattle grids keep them inside the National Park area; the people on the fringes have their own grids, but that doesn’t stop cattle, donkeys, and ponies reaching over fences and cropping shrubbery. Thanks very much, Dwight
Wonderful photos of your drive.
Thank you very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
A spot of reminiscing is lovely
Thanks very much, Sheree
I do love your heathered landscape.
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.