Can't stop the flow

On a narrow restored section of Blackensford Brook running through North Oakley enclosure a bank side tree has toppled into the stream, it would've blocked the flow of water completely, though Blackensford Brook was having none it; first it flowed around the obstruction, then it bored a tunnel through the obstruction and normal service was restored. You can't stop the flow.

Icicle falls

Our route this morning took us along the narrow meanderings of Bratley Water  as it snakes it's way through North Oakley and Smokey Hole before joining Blackersford Brook; I love the young forest streams, there's a particular feel of wilderness to them that I enjoy.  As I said yesterday, winter's far from done and that's nowhere more apparent that out here in the forest where Jack still reigns supreme. In places the puddle ice remains 30/40mm thick, even the edges and deeper pools in the meander bends retain a thin icy frosting, and where woodland debris congregates to form natural dams those dams are turned into sculptures of ice and icicle. Very nice too.

Intermittent weather

 

Today the Sun rose clandestinely behind a blanket of damp grey cloud which dragged itself across the landscape, and we began our walk out on the open heathland where the grisliness of the morning was most apparent and most inescapable. Eventually though we entered the cover of woodland, which ironically was wetter than being out in the open as the canopy created larger droplets which continued to rain down on us even after the rain outside had desisted. It wasn't until we were 5 miles out making our way through North Oakely enclosure, with the day being no lighter or brighter than when we started out, as if the forest had over slept, that all of a sudden the clouds broke and stands were flooded with dazzling  radiant light. And on the head of a pin the morning had turned, and warm bright sunlight reigned. Until the afternoon that is, when loud cracks of thunder, flashes of lightning and torrential rain/hail brought flooding and a power outage.

Black Water reborn?

Geoff and I were walking North Oakley ways this morning and happened across Blackensford Brook, one of two head waters which feed Black Water, and it was flowing, or at least giving that impression if you screwed up your eyes. Oh I thought, Black Water has been reborn...barely; then I thought, has it though? Or has Blackensford Brook been flowing weakly like this throughout, and the water's disappearing below the gravel long before it becomes Black Water; this point being just beyond Stinking Edge Wood, is only a matter of a couple of hundred meters from the dual sources of the stream in Backley and Blackenford bottoms, two hollows where water has been present throughout. Considering that I came to the conclusion that we'll probably need a lot more rain before we see Black Water flowing again.

And breath

Our walk through the forest was undertaken at a fair pace; we completed 5.3 miles in 79 minutes; not bad eh. We took the all weather forestry track from Wood's Corner through the broad leaf and conifer mosaic of South and North Oakley enclosures, which finishes 4 miles later atop Mogshade Hill; although we only made it as far as Smokey Hole before turning back on ourselves. But for the chatter of birds high in the canopy the forest was all very quiet and still; walking was proper meditation this morning. A reliable walking surface allowed me to work on my breathing; practising what I'd describe as my version of box breathing on the flat, breathing through my nose, inhale 3, hold 2, exhale 3, hold 2 (more like rectangle breathing), and inhaling through my nose and out through pursed lips on the climbs; all the time trying to maintain a calm relaxed posture whilst sustaining reasonable cadence. I found myself a good rhythm; legs and breath working in harmony. A good walk.

Blackensford Brook

 

At this point Blackensford Brook is little over a mile in length, still in it's infancy as it flows through North Oakley, it'll shortly be joined by Bratley Water and soon after that become Black Water. Away from easy access people are sparse, I'd say that this is one of the quietest part of the forest, you'll rarely see folk beyond the gravelled track; diverge from that and you have the stands to yourself. A lovely place to spend some time. I thought another black and white take on the forest this morning would be apt; the colour's already been drained from a naked landscape; the light's been consistently flat favouring black and white; and the overall palette of our times is definitely on the grey scale. 

Cable tree

Peculiar! A jumble of cables at the base of a a tall conifer on the edge of North Oaley enclosure, overlooking Sandy Ridge. The cables spiral around and up disappearing into the crown of the tree. There are four cables, all different in nature suggesting an array of things in the crown or maybe one item with multiple functions, these cables are weathered and look as if they've been there for some time. The only thing I could think of was some form of monitoring equipment or filming, though I would imagine conservationists or forest rangers would've removed the cables once the project or whatever was completed. Interesting.