Brrrrrrrr!

-7C forecast for the morning - but that won't stop me! Planning 10 miles to Beaulieu and back - update and maybe even some pictures later - if I return!

I'm back! Click on the photo below for a few pictures:
I left home just before 8am . . . temperature -5C . . . a pleasant stroll along roads to Dibden Purlieu and then through Dibden Inclosure and onto the forest. It was freezing! The frost so thick it looked like a carpet of snow. Footpath was non-existent so made for heavy walking, at times through brambles and then trying to avoid the frozen ponds. Didn't seem to be worrying the ponies too much who are clearly benefiting from their thick winter coats. A herd of about 10 deer dashed across the road about 1/4 mile ahead of me but they soon disappeared into the thick, ice covered gorse bushes. The hill down into Beaulieu came as a bit of relief (as did the public loo's in the village!). Very nice mug of coffee at Fairweather's Garden Centre - I think I was their first customer - they had to warm the mug up before pouring the coffee in. Refreshed I set out to retrace my steps for the walk home. The sunrise over the partly frozen Beaulieu River was beautiful. If you think I was stupid take a look at the pictures on flickr - I could hear the crunch of breaking ice as the canoeist made his way down the river! Eventually arrived home - 10 miles in just over 3 hours - will be interesting to see how the limbs react to this sudden surge of exercise - I'll let you know.