Thursday, July 19, 2012
Wrecking My Shoes (Almost)
As I mentioned yesterday, I spent some time during my stay in Kent exploring the local walking trails. This sounds like a wonderful, peaceful way to enjoy the bucolic English countryside -- but only if the weather cooperates. Which, in this case, it didn't.
England, I am told, has a strong tradition of maintaining public walking paths that criss-cross towns, fields, back yards and farmland. Some of the paths date back to a time before private land ownership. In Kent, I chose to follow the High Weald Landscape Trail, which runs near the school where we stayed.
The first day we arrived, I set out in the evening and followed the trail in one direction, past the aforementioned cows, across a road and through fields that got increasingly dense with underbrush. I turned around when it began raining and the path looked like that top photo. I wasn't really dressed to swashbuckle my way through wet thistles and brambles. Besides, it was getting dark.
(That's a trail marker in the photo at right -- and no, it's not sideways. It's just saying the trail goes to the left.)
The next morning, I went in the other direction.
The path was promising at first, cutting across a field of tall grass and Queen Anne's lace. I met a woman and her ornery dog. ("He doesn't really like men," she said, as he barked furiously. I gave him a wide berth.) Otherwise, I was alone, marveling at the lack of mosquitoes that often make hiking in Florida such a drag.
I had a great time photographing bugs and flowers. Soon, though, the path ventured into the woods, where after days and weeks of rain, things took an ominous turn:
Holy mudbath, Batman! I negotiated this slippery slope as best I could in my Merrills, which I'd bought only a few weeks earlier. Lemme just say, I see now why British people wear "wellies." I trudged along, encrusted and shellacked around the ankles, until I came to a huge puddle sandwiched between two fences and could go no further.
The puddle was right next to this house. Doesn't it look like something out of Hansel and Gretel?
I turned around and made my way back to the school, just in time for it to begin pouring rain. Happily -- as I mentioned yesterday -- I was ultimately able to save my shoes.
Among the cool stuff I found along the trail, and on a later walk in the nearby Hemsted Forest, were mushrooms -- including the puffball mushroom above, nestled in the grass like a big lost golf ball.
Love was in the air -- at least among insects and slugs.
And wildflowers were everywhere -- like these thistles. I'll spare you my zillion photos of flowers -- at least here. They'll eventually be available on Flickr!
Oh, my! Just what I needed with my morning cup of coffee--a good laugh! I so enjoyed your walk Steve! I wish I could have joined you, mud and all!
ReplyDeleteI think you need to invest in a pair of wellies if you're going to be going "cross-country" again.
You didn't encounter any stiles?
I could live in that quaint, charming house.
Love the "love bugs!"
I have a memory of going on a hiking trail with friends after it had rained & sliding down a bank on my butt - I was FILTHY! But it was fun, actually, once I got over being embarrassed :)
ReplyDeleteI need to remember to check out your flicker page - I love flowers!
Lovely- looks like home. When I lived there I rarely took my wellies off. The little house is SOOO sweet! You should have invited yourself in...Dexter loves men and boys- if you ever come to the PNW he will not bark at you.
ReplyDeleteI want to stay in that little house in the green, green grass.
ReplyDeleteLove amongst the slugs. How sweet.
ReplyDeleteI love this. I love that England maintains these walking paths around the country.
ReplyDelete