Bluebells

It's that time of year again when the bluebells come out! We really do have some of the best flora in the world I think. Spring is the best because of all the new life and as I bimbled over 2 miles to meet friends for a walk last Saturday I saw tadpoles and ducklings in Flushers Pond (Petts Wood) and a wood (dell) full of bluebells. Another favourite of mine is Cherry Blossom, which is very common around these parts.

Petts Wood was named so in 1927 by Basil Scruby (town developer), who named it after William Pett who leased the woods in the 16th Century to harvest wood for the shipbuilding industry. The wood is also home to a memorial to a Mr Willett who was a local man who campaigned for the introduction of Daylight Savings (the Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, is named after him).

As you can see I haven't quite got used to the typesetting on this blog! More adventures to follow as and when they occur. Kew Gardens is planned on 9th May, plus walking part of the 1066 Country Way in July, and a 50mile walk to Canterbury in August.

adventureman

Welcome to my gym...

let's get out there and use it

Walking on sunshine

Walking has come back into my life in a serious way after nearly ten years of doing increasingly more work behind a computer screen. In an attempt to fight this sedantary lifestyle and continue the fitness and weightloss programme I'm following, I've set myself a series of challenges. The first was 'the Ben' (as we mountaineers call it) and the next lined up is to walk to Canterbury from Downe (Kent) - this will be about 50 miles. In order to motivate myself to do it, I'm doing it for charity - well actually for a youth theatre group I manage. I've also enlisted the help of some other 'fans of the drama' to get involved. In fact, a large group of us have been walking regularly since January this year, mostly on Sundays: we've been to some great places - above is the group picture from the 4th April walk in and around Otford - it was a particularly beautiful day. This weekend there's one in Chislehurst and I'm hoping they'll be bluebells out this time! They are quite a sight in this area.

Scotland 17th - 20th April 2009

My trip to Scotland began with an incredibly long train journey (12hrs) but when I woke up in the Youth Hostel the next morning and saw where I'd arrived the night before, I was so impressed and immediately felt myself coming down with summit fever. I couldn't wait to climb the challenging Ben Nevis with my friends. Looking at this picture, you can see why I fell in love with the highlands. The picture above is near to the summit of Ben Nevis, we saw some climbers come over the top of it.