A Very, Wet Walk

collecting sweet chestnuts

Maybe if I’d known that the heavens would open quite so dramatically, I would have postponed our trip to the woods. At the time, my only thoughts were focused on spotting a fly agaric or two, which we were bound to find. We do each year. Everyone had coats and wellies, just in case. There was bound to be a shower.

We stopped to collect sweet chestnuts and soon filled our pockets until there was no more room. There were offers to take off jumpers to carry more. It really is a good year for foraging. Such abundance.

path becomes stream

And then the rain came. In bucketfuls. We sheltered under a tree, expecting it to pass after a few minutes. The dog hid her head under my coat, while the rest of her soaked quickly to the skin. For the first time ever, I wished we had a coat for her. I wish I’d packed the waterproof trousers for the rest of us. Hindsight. A wonderful thing!

Eventually, we took the decision to cut our losses and head for the car. Not before jumping in the new stream that was flowing fast in the path we had just abandoned. When you’re already wet, why miss some fun.

fly agaric

We found plenty of fly agarics, which I discover are very difficult to photo in heavy rain.

sun in woods after the rain

Just before we reached the car, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Taking a bit more time, we spotted more varieties of fungi, before heading home for warm, dry clothes and a hot chocolate. There is something entirely wonderful about changing into dry clothes after a soaking. It makes the whole adventure even more of an adventure. Don’t you think?

Linking up with the inspirational #CountryKids
Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

34 comments

  1. Yes definitely !
    There is a bizarre pleasure in being at the mercy of the elements isn’t there..only I hasten to add when you can soon get cosy and warm and dry straight away afterwards :o)

    1. Oh I agree. Always easier to cope with walking in wet clothes if you know dry ones are close at hand. Been on camping trips where I’ve struggling to keep one set of clothes dry and still putting damp clothes on in the morning…. brr. Even then, it makes the cafe, you find to warm up in, seem like an oasis! 😀

  2. It really does, somehow! Hindsight is so wonderful..! Looks like a great time was had anyway 🙂

  3. as long as it’s not too cold i enjoy getting out in the rain!
    maybe not so much the wet car ride home… but definitely the warm dry clothes and the hot chocolate!!

  4. That is so true Cheryl, it is a great feeling to be warm and dry after a soaking. It still looks like you all had loads of fun and the woods look beautiful in full autumn glory. I love the toadstool picture too.

    1. After the initial shock of being soaked, the children just got on with the walk. I’m not sure I’d have heard any grumbles over the downpour. It hasn’t put them off walks, so no lasting harm done!

  5. Absolutely love the photo of the muddy road! As they say, no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing! Wellies and waterproofs and off you go! Completely agree on the warm, dry clothes once you get home though 🙂

    1. It had become such a torrent. If I’d known, I might have taken a before photo! But for waterproof trousers (and a dog coat) we may have carried on. Forever the optimist!

  6. It looks like it was well worth the soaking though. I’m thinking about getting my only son that doesn’t have waterproofs some so we can all go and play out in the rain next week.

    1. Waterproof trousers make the difference. My childrencan play out in the rain, so much longer when they are wearing them. The trick is to remember to put them on!

  7. Fly agarics, that’s what they are called – we’ve never seen one, though we see lots of the humdrum brown and grey toadstools out and about. Maybe we’ll be lucky today! Love the fact that the sun came out for the last two minutes – sounds like you’re in Wales like us!!

    1. You need to head to woods with birch, larch or pine trees. This is the time to do it. It is always a magic moment when we find the first fly agaric. The children are desperate to be the next person to find one. Not a million miles away from Wales. We’re in Somerset.

  8. What a downpour but you looked like you still had fun! Nothing better than getting inside and dry after a muddy wet expedition.

    1. More difficult to summon the enthusiasm to go out when its raining, but once you are out, it really is a different matter. 😀

  9. It really does make the adventure more exciting! There’s nothing better than a walk in the woods even if it is pouring with rain. Must have been so muddy but you got some great photos – it makes the sunny one even more special. Lovely post (sorry bit late commenting!)

Comments are closed.