Not much snow in Orpington at the moment, but get out into the “country”, there is at least some. The temperature in High Elms car park was -7.5C this morning – ideal for Rocco, less ideal for me!
Rocco enjoys his sticks:
And it’s nice watching the sun rise:
A frosty but nice walk this morning in High Elms and Farnborough Fields. With the low temperatures, Rocco seemed particurly energetic!
We were walking in Farnborough Fields this morning, and someone asked if I’d see the poppies. Nothing visible from where we were chatting, but further on we found two fields covered with them:
It looks like they’ve been planted amoungst legumes of some sort.
A lovely sunny morning, so a good opportunity to see the bluebells at Shoreham Woods:
A fine day was forecast, so we headed off to the bus stop with Rocco and Toby.
Got to the right bus stop just as the bus was arriving; quite crowded but we squeezed the dogs into the wheelchair/buggy area and were soon in Farnborough Village.
It was warm, but quite windy on the higher parts of Farnborough Fields:
Rocco was happy with his stick, Toby just liked browsing. After a selection of paths through woods and fields, we were soon in Downe Village and the Queens Head Pub.
It was warm enough to sit outside in their sheltered garden:
And we were both enjoying a pint of Bexley Burnt Oak beer:
Then, lunch arrived, a Katsu Curry Chicken burger and an excellent Steak & Ale pie, washed down with more beer:
The dogs were then starting to get a bit bored, so we escaped via the “hidden” entrance back towards High Elms:
Then back to Green St Green and another bus back to Orpington. With a rather muddy Rocco:
A lovely lunch!
It’s quite a while since we’ve managed a day out, and with good weather forecast, we decided to repeat a walk we did back in July (see Lunch at Downe) though in the other direction.
We caught an R11 bus from Orpington High Street (having just missed one, of course) to Green St Green. After negotiating the busy A21 roundabout, we were soon away from roads:
Rocco appreciated being able to run around and chew sticks:
Soon we were in High Elms, gently climbing through the autumn leaves:
We needed to cross High Elms Road at Sparrow Wood Car Park:
and then followed the permissive footpath into Downe village:
And then to the Queens Head for lunch, washed down with Timothy Taylors Landlord Dark – an excellent beer we both enjoyed.
After lunch, we had a bit of road walking, then escaped across the fields by Farthing Street:
Then back into the woods:
and across Farnborough Fields to Farnborough Village, where (again) we just missed a 358 bus back to Orpington. Not long to wait for another one though!
Pretty fungi on Broxbourne Gardens the other day:
High Elms looking rather spendid today:
Yes, Rocco was with me, but far more interested in destroying sticks than posing in photos…
One of our local breweries had an open day today, so it was a good excuse to jump on a train and sample their wares.
We got the train to High Brooms, just north of Tunbridge Wells. By then, Rocco was desperate for a walk, so we found a nearby park for him to let off steam.
Not long after, we found the brewery in an industrial estate, and sampled the various beers on offer.
Before we got too drunk, we walked back to the station and caught a train to Tunbridge Wells.
There’s a lovely park right by the station, which gave Rocco a chance to let off steam.
(He was there somewhere…)
Then back on the train to Orpington.
A nice day out!
We’ve recently found a photo of our house from 1910, which can’t be long after it, and the other 3 houses in the group, were built:
Click on the photo for a larger image.
How things have changed – it would be impossible to take an equivalent photo today as the area is more built up!