A dull, overcast, morning made way for a bright, clear blue sky afternoon, early on which we drove to Ringwood’s in-excess for Jackie to buy a present.
We diverted to Sopley Mill where rippling reflections enhanced the shallow waters, and
a female pheasant failed to keep out of sight.
While Jackie carried out her shopping I stayed in the car and noticed
that someone had lowered the tone as
I inspected the view of the landscape down Poulner Hill seen beyond a lichen covered tree.
An exploration was under way on Rockford Sandpit.
This evening Elizabeth joined us at The Smugglers Inn in Milford on Sea for their Chinese New Year celebration menu. It is now too late and I am too stuffed to do it justice, so I will feature it tomorrow.
I am sorry that American waste washed up in your part of the world. Otherwise a beautiful set of pictures, Derrick.
Thanks for that, I wonder how the cap got there? 😂🇺🇸
Thank you very much, Pat
How did a Cap about the USA get there, Derrick! 😂🇺🇸
I’m so sorry you saw such a toxic cap there! It’s disgusting, but I’m glad that’s all there was, and you had the beauty around you to erase it.
I’m salivating at the thought of your Chinese New Year celebration dinner!
Thank you so much, Merril
I think caves are very attractive to children. I know they were to my brother and me. Now, not so much.
Thank you so much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Sounds like a good day, well, apart from the hat.
Thank you very much, Sue
A great day for a change, but a bad hat that won’t change, Derrick …
Thanks very much, Ivor
Very cute pheasant
Thank you very much, Sylvie
Interesting cave in the sandpit. I hope the owner of the cap isn’t lurking down there.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
love, not hate
A cave in the sandpit. That’s something to explore.
Thanks very much, Bridget. See Anne’s comment and my response
I like all your photos, Derrick. It looks like a fine Spring day in March. There’s a city in America named Rockford, not far from Chicago. It has a small liberal arts school, Rockford College, from which my wife and I matriculated. It’s been upgraded to a University since we graduated. I wonder where the sandpit got its name.
Rockford Common is the name of the area which contains what was once a commercial quarry: https://derrickjknight.com/2023/06/16/foal-after-phone/ Thanks very much, Steve
Ugh about the hat! I’m sorry it somehow came across the pond. Otherwise, lovely photos.
My youth spent on a gold mine makes me wish to warn those exploring the ‘cave’ in the sandpit of the dangers of it collapsing on them! Lovely scenery today and I look forward to reading about your dinner.
Thank you very much, Anne. I don’t think that new hole in the pit goes in very far – wise words though.
I remember my childhood playing in a sandpit. A wonderful playground.
Thanks very much, John
The beach was as close to a sand pit I can recall playing in.
What a good sand pit. I am glad that your evening meal hit the spot, as my sister Susan used to say.
Thank you very much, Tootlepedal
The sandpit is exactly where I would have wanted to be for all of my childhood and a lot of my adulthood, ha ha!
I forgot to say that I would have been pleased to spot the pheasant trying to hide.
Thanks again, Crystal
Thank you very much, Crystal – I can just see you larking about on it
That is a beautiful silvery-white female pheasant.
She was so well patterned, Lavinia. Thank you very much
Love the adventurous explorers enjoying the sandpit! 🙂 Never know what one might find. 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️
Beautiful photos…except of course for the cap. I echo Laurie’s moan about the cap appearing.
Thank you very much, Donna
The sandpit looks fascinating. Is sand removed from there for construction?
Gravel and sand was years ago. Not any more. Thanks very much, Lakshmi
Maybe we are next after Greenland
Thank you very much, Gary
Interesting and a fun place to explore, no doubt. Reminds me of sand dunes in OR and elsewhere.
(That cap…groan– so sorry it made its way to your area….)
Thank you very much, Cynthia
Perhaps the hat was an ironic gesture
Maybe. Thanks very much, Sheree
I love how you caught the light on the lichen covered tree
Thank you very much, Rose
I have explored some caves in the Crimea and Caucasus but have never seen caves in a sandpit. Is it common?
The only one I have ever seen. It is a spent commercial quarry. Thank very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Lovely photos as usual!
Thank you very much, Riba
I forgot to mention previously that the Chinese New Year meal sounded excellent. In case you didn’t see it, I read and reviewed Perceptions. Your photographs were lovely.
Thank you so much, Robbie
The sand pit is cool. I like the fence and water picture. It especially caught my eye.
Thank you very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
Sounds like a great way to celebrate another New Year. 🙂
Thank you very much, Quercus