Oaks Park walk

Unusually for me I was out of the house before 9 this morning – I’m a shockingly slow riser, normally. I’ve done this 7 mile walk many times but it was good to be walking again after an absence of a couple of weeks. Through the woods then past the back of the prison and onto Oaks Park. Everywhere the grass was very long but fortunately I don’t suffer from hay fever. As usual I do some reading in the shade, with my usual coffee and a Kit-Kat from the excellent café.

A sign on the path invited me to find the open art studios and I came across just one with an open door. Looking inside there was no sign of the artist so I was reluctant to enter their private space which was a typical working studio with the paints and equipment as well as walls covered in paintings. I can’t believe I didn’t take a quick photo – my artist daughter would have appreciated and envied a fellow artist’s workspace. I turned around, walked in a circle and decided to go back to take that picture, but the door to the studio was now firmly closed. I should have grabbed the opportunity when I had it!

Along the Hogsmill River

On a lovely sunny day, today’s walk took me through Nonsuch Park, into Ewell Village and then along the muddy path by the Hogsmill River. Three hours walking, with no sustenance, I was glad to get home to lunch.

The first cold walk

It seems fitting that the first cold walk of late autumn should be illustrated with grim, black and white images. Taken with my rubbish phone, I had to introduce a bit of drama using Photoshop.

New paths

The Covid19 shutdown has meant many more people taking daily exercise in the local parks. Interestingly this has resulted in the creation of new paths as people keep their distance from other walkers.

I can never resist….

And another walk

On today’s walk a drunk having a pee blocked my way on the narrow footpath. An “Excuse me!” from me and he hurriedly put away his equipment and ambled along until I could safely overtake.

Considerate dog walkers collect their pet’s poo in black plastic bags. Inconsiderate dog walkers don’t bother or simply discard the bag and its contents by the side of the path or into the branches of a tree. Nice. Today I came across a green-bag version which perhaps makes the inconsiderate dog owner feel better. 😠

Now for some nice pictures….

A broken post became a handy clamp for a dropped, drinks container

A local, country walk

Astonishingly it’s only as a result of the current travel restrictions that I’ve discovered new areas of countryside within walking distance of home. With the aid of the Ordnance Survey app on the phone I was able to negotiate a myriad of footpaths on a 6 mile circular walk. The app also allowed me to record the walk – that’s a prison in the centre of the aerial photo!

Before the lockdown

As I set off, on an almost 3 hour walk, the village was empty of vehicles – quite a ghost town.

In the park and along the river there were many people enjoying the fine weather. Everyone was keeping their distance.

It would be a great shame if the government locked us all down because of the few who gather en masse.