Thunder storm, ducklings in distress and Morris dancing. Day 1

I awoke this morning to hear the rumblings of thunder from outside. What a good sign for the first day of my North bound adventure! The heavens opened and the morning passed by with a torrent of never ending rain. Luckily I was breakfasting with Mum and Em and this point and so was pleasantly dry as I consumed my full English breakfast. Come mid day the sky cleared and a glorious day was revealed.

After I dipped my toes in Barton-on-sea's water (and got a little damp from a freak wave) it was time to set off towards Poole where I would meet a Jon, whom I first met on the Azores last year and who was  staying in Poole.

After picking up a shell trinket from the South coast, we set off leisurely to Wimborne, unaware of the adventure ahead of us.

Ambling along, chatting away we became aware of a duck being chased by a dog! Alarmed at this spectacle and worried about the ducks welfare, we approached. The dog plus owner passed by leaving the traumatised duck behind them. As we drew nearer we realised that in all the chaos she has lost some of her ducklings! We heard cheeping coming from a small concrete hole and inside were 7 very bemused ducklings. There was no way these poor littleuns would be able to get out of there and so we stepped in and reunited them with Mum!

Just when you think it is about to be a happy ending, who should we spy stalking down the hill coming to rest     on the track ahead of us? MR FOX! No joke of a lie.

Now we were fine to interfere when it was a man made disturbance... But now that it was nature, what should we do? Well... We may or may not have shepherded them to safety. (Not before they went into a pub garden and nearly got squished on the main road... Ducks with a death wish. Perhaps natural selection should have taken place.)

Auntie Cathy and Uncle John then welcomed me with open arms, fed and watered me before we went to see Anonymous Morris and The Dorset Buttons perform in the corn market. 

The amazing pavlova created by A.C

Onwards and upwards!

Day Total: A leisurely 33 miles