Cheating a little here: this wasn't actually on my morning walk because I was a bit later this morning but Venus was so obvious next to the moon I felt it was worth a mention! You might not be able to see it if you are looking on a phone but if it is clear tomorrow morning, it is worth looking in the lead up to dawn.

Most of my walk was in deep, dark shade this morning, even though it was such a lovely day afterwards. At this time of year, the early sun is so low in the sky. it doesn't make it over the hill. The woods were very still: the deer had stopped rutting but few people were out.  There were small fungi everywhere and the mist hung in the trees. Bracken is still patchy in turning brown and there are signs of autumn like  chestnuts and acorns everywhere, yet most of the trees are still covered in green leaves.

Once we were up the hill in open grassland, it was like a different world. The sun was burning off the early mist and the dogs were cast in a golden glow. 

Too beautiful to decide which photo to post and the website won't let me move them around so you can enjoy seeing them all!

Wet, wet, wet!

I was so pleased not to get wet this morning, yet also happy to get outside in the rain this afternoon! I know it doesn't really make sense but I find nothing worse than sitting shivering indoors (I am one of those people who gets cold when they sit and we don't have the heating on during the day at the moment.) At least when I was out walking, I warmed up, although it may also have helped that I went with a friend.

Before I post any photos, it is important to stress that I don't encourage dogs in most ponds as they generally ruin the wildlife value. However, we have to walk across this stream anyway and the pond is so well used by dogs that there is very little damage left to do.

Open water swimming is apparently beneficial for humans too but for some reason I didn't join in. Perhaps just watching gives a feel-good factor?

Certainly the cup of tea afterwards was very welcome. It wouldn't have tasted the same if we hadn't been for a walk first!

Walking for mental health

The weekend may be the time that you are able to unwind, or like me, it may be your busiest time.  Saturday was World Mental Health Awareness Day but I was up early in order to pursue my hobby of dog agility.  We are fortunate that it is something which can be done in the open with social distancing, albeit with some new rules (face coverings, limited numbers, and not touching other people's possessions to name but a few!)  For many of you, your hobbies will not be happening in any form this year, so now could be the time to take up a new outdoor hobby. 

Walking is, of course, the easiest and cheapest.  No special equipment required (apart from some waterproof shoes at this time of year if you are not on a pavement.) Even a short walk has amazing benefits (although in the pouring rain it might be hard to believe it!)  There are numerous studies indicating that walking benefits physical health  but many are now showing reductions in anxiety as well as self-reported improvements in other areas of mental health. If you don't already, try to get outside in daylight now, before the evenings really draw in.

Today started so well with this fantastic sky...

But this afternoon was a different story.  Even on a horrible wet walk (made better by company), we saw this rather disgusting splodge. This is known either as Brain fungus or sometimes Cauliflower fungus but I think it  it was worthy of hanging around in the rain. Strange to think how similar it is to the folds of our brains.  

The rain and recent sun have resulted in an abundance of fungi but rather than bore you with lists, here is a much fresher looking parasol. Don't forget to look down as you walk.  Or look up at the clouds: they have been stunning too!

Things don't go to plan!

 Yet another day when things don't go to plan! This site is not letting me upload photos from my phone and when it does, they disappear. A perfect foggy then sunny morning but I was heading into the village without a camera. I do love the way phones let us capture the moment though. 

Oh well. There is always the chance that things will work tomorrow  😂 This was meant to be the first picture! A lovely start to the day!

A day of showers for us...we just happened to be caught in some of them!  I still prefer to get outside but sometimes we can't choose the exact timing of our walks. Although it is frustrating if you have to be indoors in the sunshine, there will always be another day for a sunny walk and the rain does wonders for one's fur (or so I tell the dogs!)

 It is worth moving briskly in the rain and we didn't look at much wildlife this morning but getting the blood circulating is just as important if you can. This afternoon looked much better: we even managed to see some sunny spells.  The recent rain made the streams flow again: this time it was worth stopping to enjoy the calming, relaxing sound of flowing water.

This stream had the addition of a stunning chanterelle type fungus (it was on the opposite bank and my shoes were not waterproof so I didn't inspect it to see whether it was a true Chanterelle (edible) or a false one (not edible). Either way it was old and I wouldn't have wanted to eat it anyway. Much better to leave it for the next person to come along.

Expect the unexpected

I always walk every day, even if it is raining and certainly feel better for it but it is a relief to get home and dry off, even though I have good waterproofs. The forecast hadn't looked great all week when I last looked so I was taken by surprise when it wasn't too bad here for most of the day.

Arriving back at the car park, this fox was even more unexpected. It appears that people have been feeding them so they are rather tame but it was still special to see such a beautiful animal at such close range. Not something that you can  all do but worth taking the time to look closely at anything you do manage to spot.

 Frogs and Toads should be heading to hibernate soon, although it has been quite mild (it doesn't feel like it at the moment.) Sadly last night a number of amphibians were killed on our road (it wasn't easy to identify them after cars had gone past), probably because the wet weather was perfect for them.  It was an unusual sight but I didn't think that anyone would want a photo.

The wet weather has also caused a real flush of Honey fungus. Not something that you would want in your garden but a number of foragers were out today, collecting the fresher specimens.  Too much can cause gastric issues and you should only collect what you can eat so they were not filling their baskets (at least while I was there!)

The sun came out briefly this afternoon, really lighting up the wet woodlands where I was walking. We had been picking our way over the fallen Sweet Chestnuts: the dogs trying not to get prickled.  Their spikes are so vicious but the chestnuts are now starting to ripen and are bursting from their prickly cases. It has been so windy the past few days that the ground is littered with chestnuts, conkers and acorns.  The squirrels are very busy burying them, planting the trees of the future!