Walking

Woodland walk today

A short woodland walk today – after yesterday’s coast walk – in Holsworthy Woods just south of Holsworthy

Holsworthy Woods
Fern
Lichen
Holsworthy Woods

It was just a quick mince pie and tea stop today with a flask. As the weather was damp and dull I headed back to the hotel and a movie – so I did not need the rest of the gear and food I packed with me.

Tea from a flask whilst walking and hiking

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South West Coast Path walk

I parked in the same place I did on Saturday and walked north(ish) towards Bude – taking as many opportunities as possible to make images.

The light was particularly good as the weather was overcast – so no hard shadows but it did mean the distance was a bit hazy.

First order is the day was find somewhere for breakfast with a great view. With this is mind I found an out of the way drop in the cliff down to a spot – out of the wind but where the main sound was the crash of the waves.

Cliff top spot
This hollow kept me out of the wind
Breakfast on the cliffs
Cliff top breakfast stop
Backpacking food for the day
Food for the day

The plastic box is an up-cycled cake box. Breakfast was home baked wholemeal bread with cheese spread and homemade plum jam. Of course I brewed fresh coffee.

The biscuits (Oreo’s and breakfast biscuits), apple and fried rice is for lunch or snacks. In the box is also milk, curtesy of the hotel, a vegetable stock cube and soy sauce.

South West Coast Path
Rick Strata
Strata
South West Coast Path
Waves

On the way out

South West Coast Path
South West Coast Path
Rick strata
Strata

Lunch is here.

These sheep came to see what I was doing whilst I was eating
South West Coast Path

The Storm Tower

The Storm Tower Bude
The Storm Tower Bude
The Storm Tower
The Storm Tower Bude
The Storm Tower Bude

Bude

South West Coast Path Bude
South West Coast Path Bude
South West Coast Path Bude

On the way back

South West Coast Path
GCHQ listening post
GCHQ listening post in the distance
Lower Longbeak​ Cornwall
Lower Longbeak
Black and white misty coast

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Walking today

The route I took today was out near Kirkby Green.

Lincolnshire sky
Lincolnshire sky
Hiking lunch
Hiking lunch

I found a spot out of the wind – after the rain stopped – for lunch. Tinned mushroom soup, buttered sourdough bread and coffee. The smoke was because I used some hexamine solid fuel tablets to heat the soup and water, but once I used them I remembered why they we still in my fuel box several years after I had bought them.

Compared to the Fire Dragon gel fuel the hexamine tablets gave off pungent fumes and left a sooty residue on the mugs and stove. OK for a standby, lasts forever, fuel but not for everyday use anymore. The British Army used it for years and the first outdoors stove I bought when I was at school, from the military surplus department in Millers of Grays, was an army folding cooker which included eight large blocks of hexamine.

Hiking haversack load out​
Hiking haversack load – including a lightweight poncho
Finnish Haversack
Finnish Haversack
Lincolnshire sky
Lincolnshire skies
Lone tree in the style of Ansel Adams
Lone tree in the style of Ansel Adams

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Last day of my leave

Although I had to work yesterday and this morning – today is officially my last day off.

I thought a walk along the disused Sleaford Canal and coffee in the autumn sun was a good plan for the day.

Sleaford Canal walk
Sleaford Canal disused lock
Sleaford Canal disused lock
Autumn leaf in the sun
Coffee and biscuits
Hiking filter coffee

One useful bit of kit I do not mention is the fold-up stool. The steel and canvas construction is strong and it comes with a canvas sleeve that makes it easier to pack. It is heavier than an aluminium equivalent but this stool is more compact and stronger.

Having a comfortable seat for my breaks, easily makes up for the extra weight carried.

Sleaford Canal disused lock
Sleaford Canal disused lock
Sleaford Canal walk
Sleaford Canal

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