It was Naoimi who told us about Frostenden, when MIchael waxing about blue bells in Reydon, she said, not a patch on Frostenden.
Early evening Saturday we drove the back roads, following close to the cycle route I’d just taken (to Brampton Station) via Stoven, a dog leg over the A12 still empty, and sharp right turn at the multiple crossing roads. The layby was empty. Light dappled, air cool enough for a coat, Michael balanced with his two sticks, we walked on bouncy earth down what began to feel like an ancient track. Large oaks either side banked up, may be 200 years old, and hazel over grown, indicated to me an old pathway. Later I see on a map, Track is marked between Sandhole Covert and Jubilee Covert. A smattering of blue bells on the edges: we thought, not up to Reydon. But turning we walked through a veritable carpet of blue. Bobji, who’d already run 15k that day, gambled in the wood, dug and kept tabs on Kali, eye on stick. Plenty of sycamore, hazel, oak, old silver birch, and down towards the water system, Alder. No hornbeam I could see. The sycamore looked like it had been eaten in it’s youth, and the scare had grown up with it.
The habit of impatience arrives and teaches me to that slowly I can see far more than briskly passing through. Habit of a life time walking too fast. Now I am invited to slow down. Phew.
So much under our noses, that I have never found. Inspired to visit all local woods this week. Tomorrow Sotterley.
The bicycle ride was to Brampton station, and passed some unexpected brazen early spotted orchids. I left Kali behind – the old boy.
So many moments of memory. Cowslips remind me of Mary Ann and Penelope, and the luxury of the wild area in their generous garden and a mown areas through Queen Anne’s Lace. Just as Alexanda reminds me of Tess. Bumped into Kym and Nick and they guided me to an off road track way to Brampton Station. Ground good and hard, it was a fine and easy challenge, a little taste of uncertainty. As it happens the 2nd moment outside comfort zone this day – the first playing bridge on line and making a complete hash of it. Christina is a good teacher, held my hand. Riding on rough ground making swift decisions left or right, out of ruts onto smooth, reminded me of driving in the Sahara, making swift decisions driving hard and fast determined not to get SIS (Stuck in Sand). All this big land, huge skies, gentle roll, in front of my nose.
The oaks – oh the oaks just perfect today, sap green, ochre green, curtains of oak cakins along the road sides.
Kaliwood 