How much fun can you fit into one Easter weekend? The answer is "a lot!"
The weekend started with a roadtrip to Cricklade with my mum to go and see the fritillaries in the Nature Reserve there. This one meadow has 80% of the country's Snake Head Fritillary population and is an incredibly beautiful spectacle!
When you look across the meadow there is a purple haze from the sheer number of flowers, then when your eyes adjust you can then begin to focus in on the individual flowers and see the intricate patterns on the petals, some like chequerboards.
After our roadtrip it was back home and time to launch The Saucy Nancy III and Katie Kayak. Our first paddle was from Marchwood up to the Redbridge Causeway and back with my big brother (best brother ever). We went up on a rising tide and it was our plan to get under all three bridges ( a rail bridge, road bridge and the old stone foot bridge) to the landward side which we did.
After a short break we were back in the kayaks and then came the fun part; paddling under the bridges, through the arches, against a very strong current. Once we had successfully gotten past the bridges it was a nice steady paddle back to Marchwood to pack up head back to Team Flynnie HQ.
The next day all the kayaking kit was loaded up again and we were heading to Iford Bridge and the River Stour.
Our mission today was to hide some Geocaches that would only be accessible from the water, just to raise the fun factor for Geocachers who would come hunting them. We originally wanted to put out about six or seven caches but due to a few circumstances beyond our control (other caches being hidden in the areas we had earmarked) we were only able to put out three but we still had great fun doing it. Soon enough it was time to head back up river, get changed and head back across the New Forest. Now we left Bournemouth at approx 1100hrs. The traffic heading in to Bournemouth was basically queuing all the way back to Ashurst - don't you just love the sunny weather?
Easter Sunday was a chill out day with my gorgeous wife. A lazy breakfast, and a walk along the beach, followed by a general sort of pottering day all nicely rounded off with fish finger sandwiches for dinner because we are well classy!
Bank Holiday Monday started at 0350hrs. We wanted to be back on The Stour before sunrise, which we managed. It was amazing to be on the river at that time. The sky was colouring
, there was a skein of mist across the water and the only sound was the gentle splash as our paddles dipped in and out. This is what I had always imagined kayaking to be. This was green therapy at it's very finest. After a few hours of paddling we were back at Iford Bridge where we took our time loading up and brewing up as well. Everything is improved by the simple addition of a good old fashioned cup of tea, even more so if it's made outdoors!
The final leg of the Easter weekend took me and my mum to Parnholt Woods just to the west of Winchester. This is a beautiful bluebell wood
that has meadows surrounding it sprinkled with cowslips.
We have been up here a couple of times before, but this trip was special. A few years ago my mum lost her sense of smell but just recently it has returned and as bluebells are her favourite flowers this was a trip she was really looking forward to.
It was great to see her smile when the waft of fragrance drifted up to her.
So ended our Easter Odyssey. A fantastic weekend with lots of love and laughter.
Paddles up!
When you look across the meadow there is a purple haze from the sheer number of flowers, then when your eyes adjust you can then begin to focus in on the individual flowers and see the intricate patterns on the petals, some like chequerboards.
Comments
Post a Comment