Discovering Pikni Forest

It was going to be another hot day today but we were determined that we would get our walks in.  Nicky and I left at 7.30pm to get to Pickni Forest.  The Forest is not huge and it is criss-crossed by a network of tracks which are wide enough for cars to negotiate - at least if you have a car like Kenny so you are unlikely to get lost.  However, some of the trails that appeared on my map either no longer exist or are not maintained so we started out and Narky Nora got Narky straight away!!!

Although we are in Forest the width of some of the roads meant that we were actually not particularly shaded by a canopy of trees which was a bit disappointing but there were opportunities to grab some shade and cool.  The very furthest part of the walk takes you to a precipice that overlooks Peyia 'village' which is no longer a village but a huge sprawling mass of properties.

This photograph will give you some idea of what I mean.  It is a shame that I do not have a photograph taken from the same spot from years ago when we first started coming.  I do somewhere have a photograph of Mum and Dad in the forest collecting fir cones for some project or another I was embarking on!

Shortly after standing on what felt like the edge of the world we went slightly off piste to take in more of the view and then made our way up through the trees back to our planned route - from here we could hear voices - the unmistakable sound of John laughing and as we turned a corner we bumped into him and Liselotte who had completed half their walk (which started on the opposite side of the road) and were now on their second half.  They too had had issues with the paths not being where they were supposed to be but were winging it!

A small section of our walk, towards the end, took us across the road which was much cooler as there are fewer roads - we did not negotiate the ravine which is to the left of Nicky (John and Liselotte had and said it was beautiful but with a steep descent and steep ascent on a very loose surface which is no good for Nicky who is nervous walking on unstable surfaces since her fall).

We returned to the car via the edge of the picnic area where there was a local fire engine with the driver sat out in the shade, he gave us a cheery wave.  John and Liselotte also saw him and spoke to him.  He had been involved with the massive fire at Tala two days previously where people had seen their houses go up in smoke and I dare say he was to be in action later on today when there was a massive fire in Akoursos and the whole village had to be evacuated to Kathikas.

The remainder of the day, prior to putting ourselves through the pain of watching England playing Germany in the Euros, was spent at home dipping in and out of the pool before taking a little trip out to check where my walk is going to be on Thursday - I am desperately seeking shade for this one and hoping to plot a second shorter one for Nicky and I next week.  We met a load of donkeys en route - bless them they at least had food and shade and looked quite well including the little baby one which was running around with its mum.

Unbelievably England beat Germany 2-0 - not entirely sure how that happened but the game was so boring I nipped across to see Sonia for the second half, accompanied by Charlie and Boris who wanted to give her house their seal of approval!!