Christchurch Priory behind the marina
I have been here to Christchurch, England before. I have actually visited my friend Valerie here a number of times. But it is a lovely area right near Bournemouth, on the south coast of England. Close to the Ocean with a little river running nearby it makes for some great walks.
The back to back of many of these little cottages on Mudeford Flats
One of the funky little cottages... $120,000 pounds? I wouldn't pay it
This cottage seems suitably named for me.
This is a good thing too because her dog, Dylan, a Kerry Blue Terrier, is a high energy whipper snapper who needs a lot of activity. So my first full day in the area, Valerie and I went on a 3 1/2 hour walk down to Mudeford where all these highly colourful cottages are set up feet from each other for that perfect ocean-side experience. Apparently, Valerie told me, that they now cost about $120,000 pounds and they are tiny. I guess there is a price to be paid for ocean-side experience.
Valerie trying to distract Dylan as he eagerly desires to go "get" another dog
The area we walked through just before all of that is called Hengistbury Head is has lots of paths and wildlife. It is a little challenging because unfortunately Dylan, her dog, was not properly socialized as a puppy (he is a rescue dog) and whenever another dog is nearby that he can see, he goes absolutely batsh*t crazy. Poor Valerie has to take him to the side and hold him still with his head turned away and he fights it the whole time. He just wants to go fight the other dog. I guess part of this is a genetic thing to do with the breed. Does make walking the dog in a place where you will encounter other dogs, a little challenging.
Only in Britain would their be Loo Awards!
If you can see on the horizon just to the left of centre a sort of square protrusion, well that is the water tower near Valerie's and I am taking this picture from Hengistbury Head - that is how far we have walked
Anyway, it was a good way to get out and see the area again. By the end of the day my feet and legs were once again quite sore.
The beautiful texture of long grass by the sea
Nature's colour palette
Interesting that many of the Mudeford Flats cottages have solar panels. Suppose if you spend that much on a “cottage” then you’ve got to save on something. Actually for the size of them you could probably sit on a bicycle and spin a few watts!
I know – go figure. That is not where I would spend 120,000 pounds aka $200,000 to be within spitting distance of my neighbours, but I guess it is a lifestyle too – you would have to like people … ?