Earlier today I watched recordings of the rugby World Cup matches between Australia and Uruguay and between England and Argentina.
After lunch we took a drive up to the north of the forest.
Pigs are free for the next six weeks or so to enjoy searching for acorns and other forest fruits, known as mast, that litter the roads and woods.
This sow led her troop along the verges of North Gorley. She was not averse to leading them across the road.
Sometimes a straggler, snuffling, snorting, and squeaking among the terrain, would wake up to the fact that the others had moved on, and take off like a porcine Exocet to catch up.
As one car speeded on, having passed the main group, one of these creatures darted from the undergrowth straight across its path. Fortunately I saw this coming and held up my hand in warning.
Horse chestnuts, known as conkers, are not, as far as I know, among the forest fruits favoured by the pigs. They were ignoring those that had fallen from a tree in someone’s garden.
Ponies foraging along the Gorley Road ignored
another group of small pigs on the road ahead.
For the first time we followed a No Through Road to Ogdens North. This took us along a somewhat pitted road through rugged landscape and terminating in a
gravelly stream,
in which were reflected leaves above.
Mushrooms in the grass,
and lingering lichen coating a rotting branch, lay on the soggy banks.
I thought it best for my sandalled feet not to cross the muddy footbridge.
As we left a pair of determined ponies steadily approached from the woods, to join
another grazing on the open ground.
This evening we dined on prawn fishcakes topped with sweet chilli sauce, Jackie’s superb savoury rice, and ratatouille so liberally containing chillis as to make them much more appealing to me than to the Culinary Queen, who drank Hoegaarden while I drank Patrick Chodot Brouilly 2017.
Cute animals.
So. You wouldn’t take the path across the bridge, but you at least gave us a look at the road not taken….
🙂 Thanks very much, GP
Gorgeous photos, particularly of those enjoying a walk in the beautiful countryside.
🙂 Thanks very much, Sheree
Good thing you waved so the Mercedes did not hit the piglet…
Nice body of water to come upon…. 😊☀️
Thank you very much, Yvette
The sow and her piglets are adorable. It’s been far too many years since I’ve last lived in such an ecologically healthy environment such as yours.
It is the first time for us, and seems quite unique, Rosaliene. Thank you very much
Sigh! It’s all so attractive and appealing – even the muddy bridge! My vote is in for you taking unknown routes more often. And I’m with Jackie on too many chillies….
Solidarity rules, Pauline. 🙂 Thanks very much
A veritable feast of wandering animals today. I am surprised that anyone ever gets to where they are going with so much beastly traffic on the roads and so much to look at just off the roads.
There really isn’t much traffic in the forest, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much.
I was thinking more of all the various animals on the roads than the motor vehicles
🙂 Ah, yes
So happy you saved the pig from being run over. 👏🏻 We used to play conkers when we were kids. 😅
We all played conkers then. Some years ago the game was banned in schools as a health and safety measure!!
I often wonder how we ever survived our childhoods. 🤣
Wow! That sow is huge! I chuckled at them walking in a line. She looks like the Pied Piper. I’ll bet the footbridge is lovely when it’s not so soggy. Great photos, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Jill. I may explore the bridge at a dryer time
It’s a pig’s life! 😉 So happy you saved that little guy! Wow, that Mama Pig has her paws/hoofs full! 😮
That foot-bridge is lovely, even tho’ muddy. I imagine the pig family would enjoy it! 🙂
The lichen, fungi, etc., often seem other-worldly! So cool! 🙂
The reflection photo AND that last pony photo/portrait are so wonderful! 🙂
Warm, but not Chilli-HUGS!!! 😀
Very many thanks for your usual thorough reading and commenting, Carolyn X
What a sigh to see pig happily roaming 🙂 and nice act of kindness warning the speeding car.
Many thanks, msw. It was so lucky I was there, with a sight of the piglet tearing out of the undergrowth.
Hey, I heard from LordBeariOfBow’s daughter, Sarah, today and she said, “If you could thank everyone (on WordPress) for me that would be fantastic. Dad would have loved to read the tributes and messages.”
So I wanted to pass on her thank-you!
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Very many thanks, Carolyn X
The Japan match was a belter. Better game than the England match.
It was, indeed. I actually dozed a bit during the England one. Thanks as lot, Gary
These are such wonderful photos sir.
Thank you very much, Gary.
I have long believed that pigs, cockroaches an octopuses are aliens. Loved the portrait of the pony at the end of the post.
Thanks very much, Uma. 🙂
One of your top titles for a post. Great action shots of the pigs. Would love to see what’s on the other side of the gravelly stream someday…
Many thanks, Oglach 🙂
Those pigs have their own world. They rule the road…haha!
They actually have right of way. Thanks very much, Arlene
Another good day out Derrick.
Thanks very much, Andrew
Happy as a pig, beautiful article Derrick
the muddy catwalk is obviously borrowed by the ponies
I would have wanted a walk in the forest today, but take 4 public transport and make an hour and a half of road (with the rain that falls) cool me down
Beautiful Sunday family
Thank you very much, Yoshimi
I’ll say it again. You certainly know where to go to get the best shots, Derrick. Never had much luck myself when driving the New Forest roads.
Living here helps, Roland. Sometimes, however, we see groups of animals in a spot never to be repeated -although they do have their own territories. Thanks very much
I do hope nobody played conkers ! That dangerous pursuit is now banned in a thousand schools from Land’s End to John O’Groats!
So I understand. It seems a shame to one who enjoyed the game as a child – maybe a schoolmaster has a different perspective. Thanks very much, John
I love the pigs, Derrick especially the Exocet missile! The newly discovered stream is very attractive.
Thanks very much, Clare. I actually couldn’t keep up with them as I followed them along the road 🙂
😀
What a glorious ramble today! 🙂 So many beautiful scenes, animals and landscapes.
Loved the description of the piglet exocet!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Bob 🙂
With everything else that you meet on your trips into the forest, I have expected to see a second picture of the footbridge and with three billy goats and a troll!
I enjoyed reading your shopping list over at Yvonne’s place, you gave us one or two to puzzle upon!
Thanks very much, Sue 🙂 Billy goats I might manage some time.
Another iPad predicted text typo, the above comment was meant to say Half expected!
🙂 Thanks a lot, Sue
Love those porcine exocets Derrick!
Thanks very much, Sandra
So much going on in the forest. I’m glad you saved the piglet.
Thanks very much, Lisa 🙂
Do they ever put up signs on the road warning drivers of crossing pigs?
They do. Thanks very much, LL/PS
I had to Google “conkers.” The kids in my neighborhood growing up would have loved the game. The closest we had were clicker-clackers, which ended up being banned because they could shatter.
We used to go um to our local common and throw sticks up to knock them off the trees – then race each other to get to them first 🙂 Thanks very much, Liz
Wise choice about the footbridge. 🙂
The publican at Mum’s Birthday party complimented me on my outfit but commented that I wore no socks. “I can’t wear those with sandals” was my reply. Another reason for not chancing the footbridge, Widders. Thanks very much.
Indeed. Socks and sandals just isn’t done! 🙂
So beautiful, and I am glad the piglet made it across the road in one piece. As always, thank you for sharing.
Thanks very much, Takami
A delightful journey! It’s so nice to see pigs roaming free. Thank you for watching out for the little one.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
Autumn in the forest has its own magic. Beautiful photos, Derrick!
Many thanks, Lavinia
Phew! My heart was in my throat when I saw the photo of the pig narrowly miss getting hit by the car. Run, little pig, run!
🙂 Many thanks, Laurie
The pig was lucky to have you there as an occasional traffic warden. The muddy path you prudently avoided reminded me of the sensory walking trail they have for children at Trentham gardens.
Thanks very much, Susan
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a pig family like that. Thanks for sharing. I love that footbridge!
Thanks very much, Merril
The expression on that pony looking straight at the camera – priceless!
Thanks very much, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick
Do the roaming ponies (or piggies) cross such narrow bridges, or do the bridges keep them from going further?
They wander freely, but know their way home.
Thanks very much, Pleasant
Love your free range pigs and piglets!
Thanks very much, Dwight