12 months on...

This afternoon we returned to a walk we last did twelve months ago. It covers  two areas of woodland between Braslou and Marigny Marmande: Bois de la Couarde and Le Bois Millet.

We know thanks to the fantastic recording tool which is our blog! It allows us to look back and see how things have changed... If they have changed... The Etang and paths remain the same...

so too the ferns and braken...

The gorse was out in abundance...

and so was the lichen

We noticed some new signs...

and some unseasonal things...

The fungi were still about in abundance...

And although the sun wasn't shining as it was last year, it was drier underfoot and the pleasure we got from the walk was just as good!

Last years walk can be seen here.

Forest Walks

When we go on our weekly walk it is generally through one of the many forests available. It is always a little worrying whether we will find the car again especially in Chinon forest which is a little on the large side. You can set off walking down the various trails, turning left and right and then not be quite sure where you are!

We have rejoined a trail and not realised we had walked in a circle on more than one occasion!

On Sunday we took our small (7") tablet with us loaded with a complete map of France (Free) and with the tablet GPS switched on we could pinpoint our position exactly. The map does not show the forest trails but it does show all the minor roads so it is easy to pinpoint your starting position in relation to a road. If you are not sure where you are or what direction you are walking it is very easy to check and alter direction accordingly. It has a walking setting too. You can get the same maps for a smartphone... May even tempt me into getting one!

Here are some pictures from Sunday's walk.

Interesting tree ring pattern...

What time of year is it? Someone tell the Blackberry!

Fungi in miniature...

Isn't technology great?!

Bois de la Couarde

Last Sunday (we have got behind with our posts) we went for our usual afternoon walk. We'd decided to explore two areas of woodland between Braslou and Marigny Marmande, Bois de la Couarde and Le Bois Millet.

There are marked routes into the wood and we chose the clearly marked (!) CR65... *or was it CR85...?

The rest of the walk was well maintained with paths running forever through the woodland. A couple of minutes walking and we came upon a picturesque Etang.

It was particularly photogenic in the sunshine which made the waterlily leaves resemble a Dulux colour chart from the "Shades of Etang" collection. (other brands of paint are available)

The paths running around the etang and off into the woods were lit by shafts of autumn sunlight...

It's on days like these that everything is at it's best..

The ferns and bracken were just wonderful!

We met an elderly couple out foraging for mushrooms, their paniers full of a mix fit for a banquet. We were happy to just photograph these colourful specimens...

Turning left at the edge of the wood our walk took us along a hedgerow laden with blackberries - long past the picking stage. Note to self: next year come a month or two earlier!

The circular walk took us just over an hour and a half but we were stopping to take photographs so frequently that this is no indication of distance. As we approached the end the sun was getting low in the sky

But it had been a glorious afternoon and we enjoyed every minute.

** It was actually the CR85