5th January 2009A grey day with a bitter north-easterly wind. I'd promised Dad a walk in the New Forest and he chose Hatchett Pond with a walk around the disused airfield on Beaulieu Heath. Hatchett Pond was QI being partially frozen with ducks and sea-birds stood on the ice all looking cold and disgruntled. A pair of swans were making "feed me" gestures at a chap who was just getting out of his car. Swans are huge beasties when they stretch up their necks - they were nearly as tall as the man.
We set off along the B3055 (to Brockenhurst) for about 3/4 mile to the entrance to the concrete flattened diamond path which is now used by walkers, horse-riders and cyclists. Faced with a choice, we turned right.
Note to self: when in doubt choose the rule of the labyrinth - always turn left!
It was very open and very raw, and unfortunately further than we had both thought. Had we turned left, the way would have been shorter with the wind more behind us.
It was when we turned along the south path of the walk that the wind in all its unpleasant strength and chill factor did for Dad's stamina. He decided to park himself in the lee of some thick gorse while I as the stronger walker went hotfoot (that's a laugh!) back up the B3054 to fetch the car from Hatchett Pond car park.
After much cursing the wind, my recalcitrant legs that wouldn't walk fast enough (I don't do the "r" word) and ponies in the path alongside the pond that looked rather mournfully at me, I got to the car, at last. In two minutes I had picked up Dad, who had been cheerfully watching bunnies playing in and out of the gorse, and we sat and drank hot coffee and munched on caramel snack bars before heading for home.
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