The Devil's Punchbowl.

On Sunday afternoon we went to The Devil's Punchbowl which is just outside Hindhead in Surrey.

It used to be a real nightmare.

I've taken this photo from Wikipedia because it shows the busy A3 main road from London to Portsmouth in 2011 just after it was closed to vehicles.

This was where we walked - the same place - although my picture is taken a little further along the bend of the Punchbowl.

And here's why - you can see that the road was diverted into a huge tunnel system nearby, this is another picture lifted from Wikipedia;

Afterwards the old road was broken up and it was returned to nature, with lots of tree planting and landscaping.

However, you can clearly see the course of the old road;

This is the stone commemorating the 18th century murder of an unknown sailor. The stone is cursed - anyone who moves it dies - as happened the last time it was moved!

You can see the sweep of the punchbowl in the background;

Legend has it that the bowl was formed when the Devil was fighting the god Thor (who lived at nearby Thorsley) and at one point the devil picked up a great chunk of earth and threw it at Thor....leaving a big hole in the ground.

We walked up to the top of Gibbet Hill, which is where the three murderers were hung.....later the Celtic Cross was set up because locals were scared of the spirits of all those who had been killed at the top of the hill.

There's an amazing view of the Surrey Hills from the top;

With binoculars I could see the arch of the new Wembley Stadium and Harrow-on the Hill just in front of it.

Nature is struggling to reclaim the old road - here's an oak seedling with an 'Oak Apple' growing on it.

It's actually a 'Gall', a wasp lays an egg in the Oak and the larvae grows up in the protective ball the tree makes around the wound.

In earlier times, Oak Apples were ground up and turned into ink.

The Devil's Punchbowl has been transformed; no more fumes and traffic jams. There are birds, seedlings and grass where once there was carbon monoxide.

It's quiet again.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Leith Tower fail.

I've just got up after a really depressing day - it was really beautiful and as forecast for today was for rain, instead of doing the shopping we went out.

It was gorgeous and so we went to The Surrey Hills to have a look at Leith Tower,which neither of us have ever been to.

Except that I got lost about three times and then after a long, hot drive through narrow lanes and enchanted forests there was a slight problem; it's a real hard climb when you've broken your back.

I had to give up after about a third of the way - it was just too steep and too slippery. I can't afford to break anything else just yet.

Really, really frustrating.

Even so, the Rhododendrons were magnificent;

 

 

They come from The Himalyas, so they love the height and the thin soils.

 

 

And look at these majestic trees;

 

 

 

And the foxgloves are just starting to flower;

 

 

But it was a real disappointment and when I got home I felt terrible and we've still got the shopping to do.

 

What's sad is that it does confirm that I can never do things I'd wanted to do - The Malvern Hills for example.

 

And it just makes me so angry that for the three years after I was diagnosed there were times when I was well enough to do things like travelling but I couldn't because I was looking after my Mum.

 

Except that her 'family doctor' couldn't be bothered to tell us that we would have been eligible for four weeks respite care every year - when I could have done these things.

 

I'm very angry about it all.

 

On a different note........tomorrow is Wraysbury fair and I've been in a flurry of choosing photos from the last year, getting them developed and now trying to mount them.

 

Just like last year, I'm entering the Craft tent competition.

 

Last year I only got a second place - my pictures were a bit too outrageous, I think.

 

I've had a much quieter year this time, so they are a bit less controversial. I'm not happy about that but the tension is

still building up!

 

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com