Ibsley near Ringwood

Having had the children for the weekend, we had them again for the day and took advantage of some warmer weather to get in the motorhome and plunge into the New Forest. This time we went to Ibsley, parking next to Moyles Court School and spending a brilliant day discovering what the are had to offer.

I had cycled through a few weeks ago and noticed people paddling in the river which is forded at Ibsley and thought it offered the ideal place for the next of my challenges, a simple one to fulfil, paddling in a stream. I had a paddle in the afternoon and got another tick on the list but what was so pleasing about the place was the surrounding area which opened out into a massive sandpit with trees and bracken and shrubs all around it, offering fantastic paths which took you into hidden places. It was ideal for a game of Hurkey, a variation on hide and seek for outside and the children loved it.

Equally pleasing was the fact they went off and played, taking risks, having to stretch themselves physically but in a safe environment. There were a couple of grazed knees and prickles but they were soon forgotten and they let off steam up and down the slopes looking out for each other all the while.

Maria was tall enough to reach the rope swing and she had a great time going back and forth, finding the courage to leap off into the forgiving sand.

The motorhome meant we had somewhere to cook a few burgers for lunch and we'd taken lentil soup already prepared. As we ate, an ice cream van pulled up and Bridie treated the children to an ice cream.

I still managed to get a ride to Verwood done to get a few groceries and a 5km run once we had returned home. Over the 20000 steps again today. I am catching up quickly with last year.

Really lovely photos from the day, apologies for including so many.