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I went for a run this morning. I did a familiar, circular 5 mile route. But I ran it *the other way round*. My neighbour has long claimed she’s seen a unicorn on this route. I have always thought she’s just a bit mad. This morning, I had the woods completely to myself
It’s a lovely day, and it was glorious in the sunshine and woodland.
The blossom was beautiful, and it’s fragrance hung about me
After a little way, I spotted a gate I’ve never seen before. It’s angled so that if you’re running in the other direction it would be hidden in the trees. A mystery gate. I wondered what was behind it. It didn’t have a no access notice, so reader, I went through the gate
I was in more woods. Obviously. Glorious, well tended woodland with a clear path through it. I could hear a woodpecker, and the crying of a buzzard. And then, suddenly, on the path ahead of me, I spotted this beautiful thing
I stood very still to take photos and then looked around her, and realised that she wasn’t alone. The woods ahead of me were thick with deer. To left and right. An enormous herd stood stock still, watching me warily through the trees. I moved softly closer and closer
And when they came to rest, finally, that’s when I saw it. In the middle of the herd of deer... the unicorn!
I’ve never seen an albino deer before. It’s a poor photo, but it was an utterly beautiful creature!
I ran on, feeling incredibly lucky. And then, just before I turned the corner for the homeward leg, thinking this run couldn’t possibly give me more, I spotted this fine gentleman in the hedgerow
The way home was mostly a coast down open, sloping meadowland which is usually full of sheep at this time of year, but not this year
But what goes down must come up, especially in the world of valleys. The final part of the run was sheer slog up a nasty, brutal and not at all short hill. And I didn’t take a photo of that, because I was too busy surviving it. The end.
