Many years ago, I volunteered to organise a walk for one of my favourite charities. I wanted it to begin and end in a local deer park and to take in some of the stunning countryside views, without needing to walk on too many roads. It turned out to be quite a challenge.
I spent many hours poring over maps and marking footpaths. I drove to many points and walked small sections to check on the difficulty, also writing a guide as I went along. Eventually, it was all assembled in one, long, 10-mile walk, which I did alone one lovely summer’s day.
The charity walk went quite well, although there were a few parents anxious about their missing daughters. I drove to one of the spots where I could park and walked back, where I eventually found them, dawdling along without a care in the world. I gave them clear instructions on how to finish and returned to reassure their parents.
I‘ve repeated the walk myself from time to time, but a few years ago I declared it was the last, as I couldn’t reach the end and had to phone my husband to come and rescue me. Shortly before that, I had come across a couple of cottages in the woods, with a nervous tabby cat perched on one of the gates. I had a split second to capture the image featured above, before he jumped down and ran to the safety of his garden.
Last year, I started visiting the deer park once again to photograph the trees in their autumn colours. Now, I’m wondering if I could manage that walk just one last time…
Colin Taylor
15 Sep 2021It’s interesting that the cat looks like a Victorian wood engraving
Zooey
15 Sep 2021I knew it had a certain look, but you’ve just described it perfectly 🙂
Sid
21 Sep 2021OhMy! Private is private! That look is scary and misterious at the same time. Maybe, its old owner is a witch 😀
Wonderful shot <3
Ciao
Sid
Zooey
21 Sep 2021Witches cat! You’ve nailed it Sid 😀