Unexpected 8km walk made me late…oh deer! 🦌

[MissUnderstanding]

I’d planned a run yesterday but my legs hurt and I was still a bit tired from a migraine. It’s been ages since I went for a walk anywhere except around home so I decided to head to a local deer park for a wander before doing some work. It looked cold but bright. Perfect.

I parked just outside the estate to avoid the charges. Heading in through the gate and up towards the deer, I realised I’d made an error in wearing a warm coat and thick jumper. The coat came off. The wind blew straight through the jumper and the coat went back on again. Then I was too hot and the cycle repeated. Should have gone for my thin, windproof jacket! Hey ho.

This place holds a park run so decided to follow the route a little way and divert off to pick up coffee. The path heads straight up the hill and past the deer (see photo). The sun is glorious and lots of runners are out. As a lady comes down the hill and smiles at me, I almost wish I’d decided to run but spotting a guy puffing past up the hill, I’m glad I didn’t!

Because I was having such a nice time, I forgot about the coffee plan and carried on up the hill. Turning sharply left, I followed the track past the end of the parkrun route and all the way to the edge of the estate. As my first podscast ended, j realised I’d probably gone a bit far and would be starving by the time I got back to the car! I thought about winging a new route back but instead retraced my steps and was rewarded by a fantastic view over the city. Down the path, down the hill and then to the cafe for a spontaneous lunch.

Back through some more formal garden and I spotted the first bluebell of the year. Past a lady walking seven dogs and as I reached the car, 8km pops up. I was later than planned and everything else was a rush for the rest of the day. Totally worth it though!

[AlMorr 1000miles per year]

Lovely photo of the 🦌 deer in that countryside deer park, so happy that you enjoyed that 8K walk, well done. wow, that lady with seven dogs, perhaps she was a professional dog walker.

[MissUnderstanding in reply to AlMorr]

Either a dog walker or someone with a large house! They were all massive!! I love dog spotting.

The deer are lovely to see. I can’t wait for it to be fawn season.

[AlMorr 1000miles per year in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Two of the parkruns I go to have deer in the area, occasionally runners have spotted them when running.

[Oldfloss]

Glorious...what a beautiful walk...x

[MissUnderstanding in reply to Oldfloss]

It really was! Unexpected sunshine is such a mood booster, especially when paired with nature being super!

[Oldfloss in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Absolutely...such a lift as you say...! X

[SueAppleRun]

What a fabulous walk you had, I know that coat off and back on again, done it many times, a beautiful place to walk or run

[MissUnderstanding in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks! It’s one of my favourite places for a walk! Free parking nearby, great views and a really nice cafe. What’s not to love!

[Doris8 1000miles per year]

well done a lovely walk and luck you for going long walks. Seven dogs I would have been well away. I haven’t posted for a while as last 2 weeks a bit of bother with back and ribs, thinking stress fracture now and have osteoporosis , been really painful. Didn’t walk for a couple of days and when have been taking it easy walk. Did 4 km today with Mr D a bit slow but taking it easy.

[MissUnderstanding in reply to Doris8]

Luckily the dogs were all under control! I’d prefer seven happy dogs just wandering around and playing with each other than one jumping all over me!

Sorry to hear about your ribs. Really hoping it’s a quick recovery for you. Rib pain is horrible and you’re absolutely doing the right thing by taking it easy. Sending sympathy your way ❤️

[Doris8 1000miles per year in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thank u me too

[Oldlady64]

Lovely post and gorgeous photo, thanks!

[MissUnderstanding in reply to Oldlady64]

Thanks! It was such an unexpectedly nice day I thought it deserved to be shared!

[Sunshine908]

That sounds like a wonderful invigorating walk MissUnderstanding and well done on doing 8K. I know that feeling of take it off - put it back on - take it off when walking, You warm up surprisingly quickly when walking in cold weather but that wind...!

[MissUnderstanding in reply to Sunshine908]

Wind is so hard to dress for! I constantly feel like I’m wearing the wrong thing. Today is a run day and I’m torn between long everything and shirts with a cropped top! So strange at the moment. The worst is rain and wind where you’re freezing within a minute of being out and it takes an eternity to warm up. At least today is grey but not windy!