It may be a universal truth, that the packing time for women is proportional to the length of time away, for men, it’s a constant. Bags had been being packed for days but on returning from the gym, I had the standard 15 minutes to throw what I might need into the last case available, its small size helped in meeting the time challenge.
Yes, the pink case would be mine.
It was a road trip with a difference, the start would be the same as the end, it was just the size of the circle in between that was up for grabs. When asked by The Boys, the day before, where I was going, it was very much a case of if the weather was good we go North, if not, we go South. Like flotsam, we headed south, and in six hours we would be in glorious Devon.
After six hours baking in a traffic jam, we had crawled, inch by inch to the outskirts of Birmingham, we weren’t going to Devon, not on this day. Not having booked anywhere was beginning to look inspired. What was needed was a “wi-fi and a pint” in The Dog to re-assess our plans, or should I say, lack of them.
After reflection, and a semi-warm meal, it was off to the Heart of England, the Cotswolds, with it’s quaint chocolate box villages and rolling hills. The hotel was dated…. 1621 AD, no, it was very pleasant after a day’s driving, but on asking what was there to do, other than go and see other chocolate box villages, it was primarily to climb to the Broadway Tower. Given we’ve failed to climb bigger and better hills and mountains across Europe and the UK, failing to climb this one gave us little satisfaction. I blame the mid-day sun, the phrase, “mad dogs and Englishmen” comes to mind.”
It was then we decided we needed more Deliverance and less Midsomer Murders, and chose the nearest Forest to us, the Forest of Dean, and luckily booked a little cabin, part of Speech House, in the middle of a Wood where Woody people used to come to discuss Woody things, well you would wouldn’t you?
Speech House was a former hunting lodge of King Charles II and continues as the site of the court of Verderers.
The forest of Dean is regarded as the Mother of forests in the UK. Most of the existing forests today were the hunting grounds of Kings and royalty, and to be caught poaching in the King’s woods, starving or not, meant instant death.
Thomas the Tank Engine and the Fat Controller, aka Wilbert, the steam engine.
From here we could drive out into the Wye Valley,
and see Tintern Abbey, Anne Boleyn had a lot to answer for!
Speech House sits in the center of the Forest of Dean, which is teeming with forest trails, classified by difficulty (or foolhardiness). Having found a map we headed off to locate a lake in the middle, that was home to a vast array of water birds and other animals.
Hours later, having failed to find the lake we returned to the hotel, and like Dr Livingstone, we made plans to ensure we would find that lake the next day.
The strange thing about forests and forest tracks, is that if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all, literally, they all look alike!
They twist and turn ever so slightly pulling you further and further into their depths. After two hours, we came across red markers, the Speculation Trail, the only speculation we had was would we have to spend the night there.
We were lost!
The forest was closing in on us, so to show that chivalry was still alive, I sent Dina to the front with a passing reference to lions, tigers and bears.
This was met with the shout of “Bore”, quite insulting I thought, until I realized, it meant “Boar”, as we (royal we, i.e she) encountered a family of wild hogs, a first for both of us. After a brief demonstration of bravado, that involved snorting, stamping and pawing the earth, a hasty retreat was made, by them, not us, into the ferns.
Look to the bottom left, there is a wild boar peering among the ferns, and another, up a little, to it’s right.
Hard to spot, I know.
There were also many encounters with deer, I don’t know who was most startled, them or me us.
I prefered encountering rabbits.
A further two or three hours walking, and a fortunate encounter with a highly knowledgeable local walking his dog, saw us out of the Woods and back in the Bar to reflect upon another full day and the end, barr the trek home the next morning, of a weekend away.
We’ll have to go back, now we know they are dog friendly, but next time with the dogs for guiding and protection company…..I’ll feel somewhat safer.
And finally…
For some strange reason, this purchase was a must , obviously not for me, my medallion days are behind me.
Ooh, our neck of the woods! We live just 10 mins drive from Tintern Abbey and love our corner of the country 🙂 Glad you had a good trip.
And what a beautiful neck of the woods it is….you lucky thing!xxx
What I wondered was whether the woodchuck might have been chucking wood in the woody woods! Did you ever know that little verse as a child? “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could churck wood?” I haven’t thought of that in ages.
I call this kind of travel gunkholing — like we do with the boats when we just take off and poke around into this cove and that. On any long trip (like a week or more) I’ll have a general destination, but I never make reservations ahead of time, or worry about where I’m going to end up. After all — you might find something more interesting along the way, and want to change plans.
As our famous baseball guy, Yogi Berra, liked to say, “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” 🙂
I did like that verse, and hadn’t heard it before, so thanks for that!
I loved gunkholing!!! What a marvelous word! How lovely to go off in a boat, we had a narrow boat for years and would just take off in that all the time, I do miss it, especially at night when it’s raining…
Love Yogi Berra’s quote! Thanks Shoreacres.xxx
Great post and images. Sense of history there. I have a new blog.
Thanks Peter, I shall go have a look.xxx
What a lovely post, and enjoyable read. Fancy coming across wild boar !
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, seeing the wild boar was a most unexpected surprise, I’ll certainly have to go back with the dogs.xxx
That beautiful landscape! They remind me of our trip to the north, up in Scotland, two summers ago… A bit of nostalgia remained…
The other night I thought at you, fate made me pick up a very little sparrow that must have fallen from the roof of a 4-story building in the center of Bellinzona. He was still alive, but could not keep on his legs… I wonder how many hours he was there on the street floor… and it was very hot. In a nearby restaurant I asked for water and I give him a few drops… he opened his beak and certainly he was hungry… I thought to take him home and then to feed him some gnat and worms. I thought of you, that you can always save these little creatures! Unfortunately he died in my hand, about ten minutes later… I was desperate for not being able to do anything to save him. And even now my heart is swollen…
Oh Claudine, what a sad, sad story…..you did all you could do, and that little creature died with a little water and someone caring that much for it. At the rescue we lose lots of chicks, even though we do all we can to save them, that’s all anyone can do. I’m glad you found it, and loved it so. You are an angel! Huge hugs.xxxxx
A lovely forest to get lost in, but I’ m not sure about those boars. I didn’t know there were boars in the Forest of Dean. Whatever next? Wolves? Bears? Still I don’ t suppose they faze our Dina, the animal whisperer.
I have always wanted to go to Tintern Abbey, ( or above it) and declaim Wordsworth’ s Lines Composed above Tintern Abbey. I learnt it at school and it has stuck. Lovely to have an appropriate setting to trot it out.
It is a great idea to set off in the car and see where you get to. I have never done that. It sounds as if you had a great trip.
I didn’t know there were wild boar there either, I didn’t mind them, wolves and bears may have had me running! I was thrilled to see the boar, especially as they had youngsters…..all very exciting!
Ahhh….I went and re-read that poem, I haven’t read it in over thirty years, and had totally forgot about it, thanks for the reminder!
It is a nice change to just get in a car and go…..thanks Chloris.xxx
Such a good job that Dina was there to protect you.
That made me laugh Sue!xxx
I would have wandered those little Cotswold villages for days just drooling like a fool before getting hopelessly lost and devoured in the woods. I love the idea of just getting in the car and driving. Your trip sounds adventurous and fun!
The villages in the Cotswolds certainly are pretty but I’m always drawn to the wilderness….lol….I’m surprised we weren’t devoured, I never thought we’d ever find the way out, and it was getting late!xxx
What a fabulous post….and yes the Forest of Dean is filled with boars…and so great they should come across these lovely little critters:)
This post should be printed as an article in magazines…superb. Hope you both and the furies are managing with this heat. Janet. xxx
Thanks Janet, I would have visited sooner had I known about the boar!!! That was such a treat, I will look out for them if we go back, and I’m sure we will….
I have passed your comment on to hubs….what a compliment!xxx
The pub was an inspired stop. I’d go there.The forest is good for walking and cycling (from memory). There seemed to be hidden things other than boars hiding amongst the ferns
Sounds like a fun trip, with the joys of unplanned pleasures. Looking forward to hearing about the next one!
xx
The forest is great for walking, the paths are wide and flat so we would definitely take our bikes next time we go, and it’s great to know the hotel we stayed in is dog friendly too, so they can come too.
I’m sure there are all sorts of creatures hiding in the ferns, we saw a lot of deer and squirrels….Thanks Menhir.xxx
Well, this made my day, and my dear one’s as well: what an entertaining and talented writer you’ve wed, Miss Dina! Our suitcases are often imbalanced in number as well: what’s up with that? I guess the women imagine more possibilities and come prepared!
It sounds like a grand adventure; we often take off and discover places to hike and roam as well, although i would not favor an encounter with boars, as I’ve read that, unlike their human counterparts, they can be highly unpredictable!
I bet Annie and Sam missed you, but a getaway weekend can be fun, as you’ve reminded me…we’re taking off for the N. coast of Lake Superior next week and will carry your adventurous spirits in our hearts…
Must say i do envy your proximity to the Cotswold area. 🙂
Thank you for such fun! Great job, John!
Thanks Kitty, it’s John’s first post! I totally agree re women being better prepared, Most of the things I pack are for hubs, he always forgets the basics as he hates packing!
I do enjoy just taking off…..so liberating! The boar seemed a little snorty but they had young with them so were being protective, I was thrilled to see them, I must go back!
All the animals were fine when we got home, Sam and Annie seemed relaxed, it’s lovely having Laura looking after them, she managed Special Pige too!
Oh my…..I just looked up the North coast of Lake Superior, what a heavenly place, I do hope you post a few pics when you get back, have a wonderful, wonderful time, a break will do you the world of good.xxxx
Sounds as though you had a good time! When we stayed in the forest we felt it was in a time warp, stuck in the 50’s. We enjoyed super sculpture trails through the forest but i don’t think there were wild boar roaming then, we didn’t see any.
We did have a good time, we walked the sculpture path too, then roamed off and got lost! The sculpture really suited the forest I thought. Yes, it’s now teeming with wild boar, I didn’t know that so it really was a wonderful surprise. Thanks Pauline.xxx
I had never heard of the Forest of Dean. Very exciting about the wild boars, but I’m glad you didn’t resort to snorting and stamping. What is the connection between Tintern and Anne Boleyn?
Perhaps doing her a slight injustice as the Kings had been taking the Church’s land for 300 years before Henry decided on the dissolution of the Monasteries. John
It was fantastic stumbling across the wild boar, and such a relief not to have to resort to snorting etc….thanks Jason!xxx
It sounds absolutely wonderful………..I love the Forest of Dean, so beautiful
How I would love to have seen the wild boar. I know they can be aggressive but even so I would take my chances just to see them 🙂
Fabulous post………..tku for sharing with us.
That packing looks about right……..same in this household.
It is a beautiful unspoilt forest isn’t it, seeing the wildlife there has wetted my appetite. The wild boar encounter was totally unexpected, I didn’t know they were there, so just stumbling across them was astonishing! I didn’t read aggression, just a mother caring for her babies, the locals paint a dark picture of them though….but wildlife has to have a place in this world!
Lol….glad you agree re the cases…..thanks Cheryl!xxx
A most enjoyable post, and lovely pictures, which had me smiling when I read it. I’m not that fond of forests and much prefer more open places.
Oh Flighty, how can you not love forests? I can’t think of anything nicer than wandering through trees! It was fantastic to come across wild boar and deer, amongst other critters, I shall certainly head back there with the dogs!xxx
I’m very impressed that you set off to go with the flow and, barring traffic jams, it seems to have been a bit of a triumph. Fabulous photos – especially the boars peeking through the undergrowth! Have a good weekend. x
It was a great weekend break, I certainly didn’t expect to see so much wildlife, that was a bonus for sure! I will certainly go back there with the dogs! Thanks Veggie Mummy.xxx
Sounds like fun to me.
It certainly was Lisa, and good to just end up in such a beautiful forest teeming with wildlife.xxx
Well it was an adventure, and a good one at that. I often think it would be nice to just pack a bag and head off without any plans.
There’s a certain liberation in just packing bags and going for it, the traffic jams are a pain, but that is the way the motorways are now, give it a go! Thanks Jo.xxx
Why does it stick in my mind that when you’re on one of these walks you seem to get lost?
Nevertheless quite a trek and you have the medal to prove it! I hope the short break and the change of scene did you good! Have a good week!
We spend our lives lost Linda…..I think the last time was in the Lakes when we climbed the wrong mountain…..but yes, I do have the medal to prove it! And a rather lovely medal too….it was a lovely weekend, full of surprises!xxx
What an adventure.
It certainly was Elaine, I was so pleased and surprised to stumble across wild boar, now of course I shall have to go back, I think this trip was just a taster, the forest is teeming with wildlife, right up my street!xxx
Very entertaining, John!! I laughed when I realized the pink suitcase was yours… and of course the other (pile of) luggage belonged to the hedgehog woman. 😉 I’m not known for travelling light either, but for a weekend away….perhaps a little less! LOL You both had quite an adventure, which doesn’t surprise me in the least. It certainly wasn’t ‘boaring’…well in a sense, it was. Really enjoyed the photos and write-up.
I hate to admit it Glo, but I did leave the pink case out for him, after all, I couldn’t possibly be seen with a pink case, and he doesn’t seem to care…..
I do struggle to travel light, the problem is shoes and coats…..a gal has to have walking books, day shoes, heels…..coats for all occasions…. the boys can get away with anything! And hubs fails to mention that most, erm, some of the stuff I pack is for him as he is hopeless….
Hahahaha….it certainly was BOARING!!! Thanks Glo!xxx
Ah! You’re back — I wanted to know how your going with the flow went. If it were me, I might’ve stopped at the chocolate box village and put my feet up. But you and John are much more intrepid, seeking out wild animals to meet and photograph, for example!
[as an aside, those ferns are amazing!]
Well, going with the flow worked out wonderfully, sometimes it’s good not having anything booked, especially if you find yourself in a place that would be difficult to spend a few days in…..the choccie box villages are lovely, but a day is as much as I could manage, the wilderness calls to me y’see…I love forests and the Forest of Dean is just fantastic, lost or not! The deer were the icing on the cake, until I came across the wild boar, I’ll live off that for a long time! Thanks Anne.xxx