23RD DEC.

We as always when having accommodation left around 10. All our gear was dry but due to xmas goodies picked up we were heavy laden.
The route was fairly easy,  roughly follow me the A 35 to Lyndhurst.
We tried to get off the busy roads but were driven back onto them by incredibly wet paths and tracks.
I was so hot today,  probably 9 degrees. I sweated like a pig and up to Lyndhurst had only t-shirt on...
Plus trousers!
The terrain had been fairly flat and signs of flooding were everywhere. Rivers were brimming.
We huckered down by the car park / library in Lyndhurst and drank a 2 litre bottle of lemonade before walking out and pitching in a damp woodland before heading into a built up area.
We had a poor cup of tea having pitched and listened to Just William with Matin Jarvis live in Winchester ,on Radio 4. I dozed off and woke a few times with rain falling. I was snug warm and relaxed.
Had given J his xmas pressie - headphones due to unable to pack them properly.