And On To The Forest of Dean

What was I thinking? Chelmsford to the Forest of Dean, in one drive, which included the M25 in rain, it wasn't my best drive, will try to avoid doing that again! 

I've always thought The Forest of Dean sounds a little bit magical but the parts I've driven through seemed to be rather lacking trees. It was good to discover the real Forest.

Having researched Mike's paternal line and this includes the Grandfather he knew nothing of, until after his Father's death, Mike has a strong vein of Forrester blood, so this was going to be a bit of 'going back to my roots' for him!

We stayed in the village of Drybrook, on a farm. There was a view of a very odd looking house on the opposite hill, now a Nursing Home, which had been built by a wealthy businessman, in Victorian times. Seeing his taste in architecture, it does explain why so much of the Forest of Dean, is really rather ugly, they do seem to have been a bit challenge in the Architecture Department.

So many places show the evidence of the Wild Boar, escapees from a farm, that are breeding like rabbits and causing terror in the hearts of local residents, especially when they attack people walking their dogs. They are vicious things and best avoided. We didn't see any but did hear one, near to The Speech House.

Mike spent his school holidays with his grandparents, in Ross on Wye but he had never visited Symonds Yat, so this was something we were able to put right when we were there.

 Wild Boar damage.

Mike playing Pooh Sticks.