This weekend just gone Tom and I ventured out of the big smoke and out to Dunstable Downs to spend an afternoon with his family. We packed a picnic, jumped in the car and hit the road to Hertfordshire.
The weather was actually pretty good on Saturday, especially as it never stopped raining all day Friday (when I gallivanted around town in my rain hood) and a lot of Sunday too. Which is definitely a good thing, it would have sucked to try to have a picnic in the rain! It was pretty cloudy and really windy which turned out to be excellent weather for the kite festival that happened to be planned for that day too. I do understand that the photos make the weather look a little bit grim and although the grey clouds were pretty ominous looking there were a fair few gaps in them.
We hadn’t actually planned to attend the kite festival but it made for interesting viewing. Especially as when we arrived “Steve! One man, two kites!” was announced to be taking to the demonstration area. Although sadly we missed it. I’ve never really understood the whole kite flying thing. They’re pretty fun to look at but once they’re in the air what do you do? I don’t mean professional kiters (is that what they’re called?) like Steve who can fly two at once and does crazy demonstrations. I mean us normal folk who just fly one at a time. Maybe it’s because I’ve never actually attempted to fly a kite and I’m missing out on it that way. Who knows?
Aside from the kite festival we played our own games; mostly the boys kicked balls of varying sizes at each other or as high as they could into the air for a while. We then had a big game of rounders. I was captain of one of the teams and although we weren’t really keeping score I’m totally convinced that we won. Sorry Tom! I always forget that I really love rounders, it’s so much fun. I want to play it more often. Who’s with me?
Dunstable Downs is only about an hour outside of London but it totally feels like proper countryside. Looking out over the fields and watching the gliders and hang gliders soar and swoop is really kind of mesmerising. Especially as I’m really confused by hang gliding. How does it work? How do you do it? Can someone explain it to me, please? I just don’t get it. It looks incredible but I’m baffled by it.
Anyway, as I was saying it feels like miles and miles away from the busy city and is perfect for a quick getaway when you’re craving a bit of fresh air and greenery (and a local park just won’t do).
I don’t know about you but sometimes I just need to get out and blow some cobwebs out of my head. It’s probably because where my parents live it’s a short walk to be in the middle of fields or a few minutes drive and you’re at the beach. I’ve always been able to get out somewhere and stretch my legs and clear my head.
I’m always looking for new places to venture out to so if you have any suggestions or recommendations I am all ears.
Kisses,
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