Bluebell Wood

Yesterday was spent on a lovely wander through the woods between Tring and Berkhamsted.  I won't even pretend that I have a clue where I was most of day but our guide, Paul (http://www.ukwildadventures.com/), did a great job of showing us around even though the weather was a bit damp.  Okay, it was more than damp, it was downright wet and muddy!  But, no surprise to those who remember me as a child, I actually really didn't mind the mud at all. There is still a bit of thrill to be had when you are allowed to play in the mud.

The highlight of the hike was a meadow of bluebells.  They looked like a carpet of bright blue on the forest floor.  Quite other-worldly and so picture perfect you would almost think it was some clever Disney trick.  Mother nature really outdid herself in this instance. Everything was accented by some rather adorable little ones running around with umbrellas in colourful raincoats and rubber boots.  I imagine to them it must seem as though they had been let out to play right in the land of make believe.

It really was great day out.  I find it a bit exhausting to deal with such a big city all of time and a few hours in the quiet was just what I needed.  I enjoy living in London more than New York but, in both cases, I am/was living in the heart of a large urban centre which, while exciting, is constantly moving...vibrating with energy and noise.  It is exhilarating most of the time but in my mind "home" is still the wide open prairies.  When people ask me where I am from I usually describe it as just like the TV show Little House on the Prairies.  People usually laugh but then they can describe it back to me in detail.  They always ask if the people are really that nice and wholesome...and it always makes me so proud to be able to tell them that they really are.

The hike was concluded in a wonderful little pub along the canal called the Rising Sun (http://theriser.net/).  The publican himself, Nigel, gave us a very engaging education on ciders and perries - cider is made from apples and perry is made from pears.  I think I am totally converted to cider drinking now that I have tasted some of the best in Britain.  The rum cask aged one I ended with was spectacular!  Definitely a great recommendation from one of the regulars.

Well, I guess I should go and try to get the mud out of my hiking pants.  I managed to get it up to my knees...and then there are the places I wiped my dirty hands...remember when your Mom used to make you strip down at the door when you came in from playing?  Still applicable after all these years.