11.00 am Saturday 13th we are down by the chain
ferry in sandbanks waiting for Mr & Mrs Scott to arrive. The sky is black
and foreboding heavy with rain. We are thinking of forgoing the trip across to
Studland and going to the pub instead. 10 minutes later the Scotts arrive and
bring the sunshine with them. We get in the queue for the ferry, nearly last on
and to my horror I am on the ramp and there is a car behind me! Driving the
beloved BMW things are not looking good on the rolling back stakes. Mrs F is
looking concerned, not that he would be any happier if he was in the driving
seat. Then the car parking man cometh
and moves me forward all of 5 inches I guess he like just likes to see the
panic on our faces.
The crossing is 5 minutes or so and soon we are off the
other side through the toll & heading for the National Trust area at
Studland.
Housemartins are swooping overhead silhouetted against the
perfect blue sky, a Warbler perhaps Willow sings nearby and a soft warm breeze
blows the cobwebs away. We watch a storm pass through Poole over on the far
shore, very atmospheric, followed by a rainbow. Many photographs later we
quench our thirst brought on by this amazing summer day (yes it is still
October) in the local hostelry. Appetites are prime so we raid the cool bag of
pasties and pork pies that were for our lunch tomorrow & munch them in the
car park how V Common at least no deck chairs were involved.
Return ferry crossing, on the ramp again but no car behind –
good job as I had the car in the wrong gear. Oops. Quick race through duty free
ha ha and we are off & on our way to the cottage in Poole.
Quite a spacious and very nicely refurbished 106 Green Road,
Poole will do us nicely for 2 nights. A brief discussion on bedroom allocation
& all parties are content. We need to replenish the pasty stock, so head
out quayside. Also we are on a reccy to find the restaurant for tonight’s
dinner.
In the words of Mr. Griffin we walked for Flippin miles
looking for the rising sun & only found after pasty purchase in Sainsbury’s
having asked the self-checkout girl for directions.
Suitably relieved we need to rest our aching feet and there
just happens to be a pub over the road. Our Cottage is literally a few steps away;
we must have done some weird circuitous route!
Dinner – Mrs Scott’s starter was the only blight on the
evening, bread crumbed whitebait, I don’t think so! Everything else was superb
including the service. The waitress queried our tip as she said it was too
much, but she was brilliant. Sarah had Sea Bass with risotto while the rest of
us tucked into lovely fresh Dover Soles, straight off the fishing boat that
morning. Some puddings later, I had to help Mr. F with his sticky toffee
pudding Ice cream sundae. Well it would have been bad for him to eat it all
himself.
We were not late to bed!
Sunday morning & the reason for our visit has arrived,
we are going to Brownsea Island, birding & squirreling. Wrapped up, as the
sun and blue sky has disappeared, we get on another boat. I know the excitement
of it is all too much. However the cold wind soon calms us down. On dry land
again we are sheltered and head off to the bird hides.
Avocets, Spoonbills, Blacktailed Godwits, Great white Egret,
Little Egrets, Redshanks and a kingfisher are soon on the list. Avocet numbers
were 300+ and spoonbills were 12 to 15 in total. Last week there had been 47,
now that would have been something to see.
 |
| Most common sighting |
Now we are in search of the elusive Red Squirrel. We have several sightings and several blurry
photos of disappearing tails or just blank screen or leaves.
However after walking 7 miles or so we find a happy chap
munching on sweet chestnuts in the churchyard a few feet away from the ferry.
Much whirring of camera motors, tutting and perhaps some swearing, Sarah &
I leave the boys to it & head off to the the café for cake & tea.
Ferry crossing back to the mainland was very good despite
the pouring rain; it would be nice to do it again in better weather.
We are in need of beer after so much walking stop off at the
pub for a libation or two. Suitably watered we need food and decide fish &
chips are called for. We rush home in the absolute pouring rain and get
completely soaked. Fish & Chips are left on the side whilst we change &
dry hair etc.
Having finally got the oven to work We (me that is) puts the
F&C in the oven intact in cardboard boxes that they came in. we then start
to look at the photos. Can anyone smell burning?? No it’s just the cardboard
drying out. Are you sure it smells like burning to me. Then all hell broke
loose, cardboard had caught fire and the kitchen / living room was full of
smoke. Windows & doors were flung open and much wafting of smoke alarms. In
my opinion open plan design has a lot to answer for!
Some of us did not sleep due to, smoke trauma, TV aerial banging
on chimney and fear of traffic wardens.
The Scott’s however made up for lack of sleep the previous night.
Monday, day off work hurrah! Was marred again by rain so we
decided to call it quits & all headed home to pour over blurry squirrel
photos and nurse sore feet & legs.
Did we have a good time? Y
You bet we did – despite the fire!
Look out Aldeburgh here we come.
No comments:
Post a Comment