First Walk of 2009

I was wrapped up really well for my first walk of 2009 yesterday as the forecast said it was minus 5 and unlikley to get above minus 2 all day. I was very warm and cosy as I waled especially as the predications did not quite materialise. We are however still enjoying a cold winter and I love it.


As far as I'm concerned it's what winter is all about and the fact that the cold should kill off the bugs and is in keeping in nature is fine with me. I love coming into the warmth, glowing and the opportunity to snuggle up on the sofa, to make a hot chocolate and light the fire and candles.



Yesterday after our walk we came back to a fire and glasses of red wine and my wonderful mushroom risotto.



However, what about the walk? Well Cajsa, my walking partner had requested a walk in the Forest and with the sun shining and the sky blue that was easy to agree to. We met near her house with a plan to walk back towards mine but of course we took the long way round covering somewhere between 10 and 12 miles over all. Here's Cajsa on the go.







The scenery was stunning and so clear. This first photo was taken in Buckhurst Hill looking out towards Ilford. We are at quite a height here. This part of the walk is one I often do with my local groups starting at Buckhurst Hill station and just along here is a little gap that takes you through into a wonderful little street full of small cottages - it's a little like going back in time.


From here we headed up to the forest and below shows some of the trees and the very clear sky.



I consider myself so lucky to have the forest on the doorstep and there are so many paths and variations of walks to do. I train a lot of my charity walkers in this forest and enjoy picnics and like yesterday a welcome hot drink at the tea huts that have been in the forest for years.

As you can see, this photo of the tea hut was taken on at a much warmer time of year but the number of people around was virtually the same which was great.

Here are some further shots of the forest in it's haunting winter glory:

We were returning about 2.00 and parts of the forest were still wrapped in heavy frost, this bramble had seen no sun all day at all.

The lake below still had plenty of ice floating on the surface and acting as rafts for the many birds - don't think I'd fancy standing on that surface.

All my walks start up this week including the Wednesday evening Moonwalk training walks so I guess I'll be seeing these scenes a lot again and how I look forward to the changing scenes as winter makes way for spring.