The local seagull population have taken up temporary residence on what's left of the wreck of the old MFV in the river.
Sadly there's not much left at HW after someone set fire to the hull back in the summer, but the gulls look to quite comfortable if a little limited in space.
Quiet and deserted scene from the foreshore at Netley, worth getting up early on a day like today.
Low cloud on the horizon is something I recall from offshore sailing, finished the last watch as the dawn comes up, tea or coffee on the stove
Near Godshill and only accessible on foot are the remains of a WW2 bombing range.
From 1940 an area of around 5000 were used as a practice bombing area for aircraft from nearby RAF Boscombe Down.
The whole range was used extensively throughout the war, creating many bomb craters and even an aircraft crash site. Activities continued until 1946,
At the top of the river in Botley this boathouse sits out in the river.
While it looks slightly run down, it's good to see it's still in regular use.
Running north from the upper Hamble the creek is lined with trees coming right down the water's edge.
I believe it's called Hoe Moor Creek, it runs for a couple of hundred yards before becoming blocked by fallen branches and turns into the stream which feeds the creek.
Waterside trees at the entrance, would be a great place to spend the night camping out away from it all on a dinghy, might be a 2021 plan.
With lockdowns and travel restrictions I wasn't expecting to see a cruise ship in Southampton water.
There is wonderful variety across the New Forest which is one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heath land and forest in Southern England.
There are towering Redwood in Rhinefield, including the two tallest trees in the forest. The redwood was introduced around 1860 so relatively young compared to their US counterparts.
Streams thread their way throughout the forest, sometimes in dense wood and other times across open spaces.
Open heath gives way to oaks which fill the sheltered valley
Low water often reveals aspects of the river which go unnoticed when the tide is high.
The remains of the old stone pier near, seen in the center the stone I most likely hit when rowing a couple of years ago.
Winter visitors taking advantage of the freshly revealed mud.
One of the lovely things about the forest are the animals which roam freely and this time in early winter seems the best time of year to see them, especially on a weekday when there are less folks around.
I guess hungry piggies are having a feast of fallen acorns from all the oaks.
The trees are also useful if you need a scratch.
The whole forest takes on a different aspect as the leaves fall and the ferns and bracken turn from green to brown. As the foliage reduces the views through the forest open up and give sight of the landscape which is hidden during the summer months.
I'm owed a lot of holiday from 2020 so with year end is out of the way I,m planning taking as many Fridays off as possible in the new year to explore the forest more with Mrs BB.
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