Sometimes we get lost – go on, admit it, you have too. However on this particular foray I succeeded in getting misplaced:
a) On my own doorstep, on a walk that I have done before, and
b) The consequent extra two miles came right at the end of the walk, and
c) I was in the company of Miss W, who had pointed out the correct route and been totally ignored.
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| Bumble bee tucks in |
Other than that, this was a very fine walk indeed, taking in a part of Suffolk that we visit rarely although it’s quite close at hand. I won’t include a map, otherwise people will say “how the #*!^ did he get lost there”, but suffice to say that we took in Bradfield Woods nature reserve near Gedding, the lovely Six Bells in Felsham (where as well as the Greene King ales they offer home pickled whelks, cockles etc as a change from the usual bar nibbles). Then through delightful farmland to another large wood, Thorpe Wood, and via various paths back to the start. I say various, as I’m not entirely sure of the latter part of the route.
It was a perfect English summer afternoon in Bradfield Woods, which is possibly why the place was populated with university researchers counting insects. Miss W had to stifle her laughter as a portly gent with an outsized butterfly net in one hand and a notebook in the other flitted from glade to glade with a cloud of errant fritillaries just out of sight behind him. Others were earnestly examining rotting pieces of wood for … well some insect or other. The birds seemed pleased with their efforts anyway and followed them closely, busily consuming the just-counted invertebrates.
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| Cob nuts near Thorpe Wood |
On to Thorpe Wood, where the summer is well advanced, and already the sloes and cob nuts are reaching full size. And thinking of full size, here we saw some of the tallest thistles that I have ever seen – a good 7’ high. The air was alive with bumble bees and butterflies. There’s little evidence that the paths are walked very often at all, so it really is a delightful, almost secret place.
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| Little walked path |
Yes, it was a great day – until I disputed Miss W’s assertion that we should take a left turn and marched firmly straight ahead. Later there was an internal moment of panic as I realised that the sun had unaccountably moved to the wrong part of the sky. I slyly dropped back and pulled out the map. This manoeuvre failed as I heard a crisp voice say, “Admit it, you haven’t got a clue where we are.” Careful reference to the map showed that she was perfectly correct in this assertion.
Fortunately a couple of landmarks pinpointed our position and I was able to guide us back without too much loss of face, other than being forced to admit that “Yes, we would be home by now if I’d listened to you” from time to time.
I fear that this incident, although forgiven, will not be forgotten.
