A Mixed Day at Willen Lake

Some days you head out of the house with a plan laid out, only for things to change while you are on your travels; Today was one of those days as we had a mixed day at Willen Lake, combining a number of our families favourite activities, while never quite sticking to one.

DISCLAIMER – PHOTO HEAVY

Plans hatched last night, would see us head out as early as we could muster and head to Willen Lake to attempt a bit of orienteering, following one of the permanent routes set out by the local Parks Trust. And for once our plans started as we intended.

We were up early and out of the door around 9 am, and were soon tucking into our McDonalds breakfast (yeah I know healthy us, the diet starts next week), a second bus ride later and the expanse of Willen Lake was stretching out before us.

Orienteering

Things went wrong early, as we couldn’t locate the starting coordinates, or rather we could, but couldn’t find the plaque on the wall of the buildings. Undeterred we decided to kick on anyway, much of the fun of orienteering for us is getting out in the fresh air and enjoying the company of the rest of the family as we do it, so were not overly fussed that we didn’t have the letters associated with the “post”.

Heading off we soon found our first post, and enjoyed the sights of Willen Lake from Go Ape to the miniature narrow Gage train that whistled as it passed. Things were going well. And as we approached post 2 the kids started taking over my cameras, so I was even able to impart a little knowledge. in fact the next few posts went very smoothly. And then the long walk started!

Gathered Around the First Post

Happy to be Orienteering

Family shot, photo by Bubs

The gap between a couple of the posts was the entire length of Willen Lake, not an issue walking wise, but in the muggy heat of August (and there was me saying Autumn had arrived in my last post) things began to get a little boring for the little lady, the odd moment of wildlife not enough to focus attention much, and by the time we failed to locate the next post things were pretty much over.

Giving Up and Maze Running

Deciding that a few failures were enough, we gave up on the remaining orienteering, today just wasn’t the right day I guess, and instead the kids decided they would spend some time trying to master the maze beside the peace pagoda.

A useful hint, never turn left!

This killed 30 minutes or so while Zoe and I figured out the next step of our day out.

Tubs Maze Running

Bubs lost in the Willen lake maze

Walking the maze

Always time for a spot of photography

Pokemon to catch too

Hiding behind a thin tree doesn’t work well

Striking out with purpose

Toby completing the Maze

Bubs completing the maze

celebrating victory

sad to be caught out cheating on the maze

Geocaching

Deciding to fall back on an old family favourite, we opened the Geocaching app and headed off up the hill to our first find. Located behind one of my favourite buildings in Milton Keynes, the Peace Pagoda, it wasn’t too log till Tubs and Zoe had found the small cache, complete with glasses??

Glasses at Geocache

Walking on, while looking out over the peace pagoda once more, we passed the monastery of the monks who administer the pagoda, well when I say passed, Bubs rolled down the hill into their driveway!

Bubs Hill Rolling

Heading north, making our way back towards Campbell Park and CMK (where we could grab a bus) we soon found our second Geocache of the day (and a huge spider!), and were quickly on our way towards the tree cathedral, and hopefully our third cache.

Tree Cathedral

Finding the first part of the multi-cache we added in the co-ordinates to the second, but sadly, the bushes had recently been cut and we think the cache disturbed. an NF for us.

Deciding on a bus back rather than a continued walk, we headed across the estate, following the canal and soon realised I had led my family astray and the bus stop we were heading for was not accessible. Fortunately we managed to find a different one and were soon heading home once more.

Wildlife

There were a few opportunities for some wildlife watching as we walked Willen lakes banks, a few dragonflies zipped about, mainly Migrant Hawkers but a few Brown Hawkers as well. Birds included some nice close Great Crested Grebe and Cormorant and sadly a recently demised juvenile Common Tern.

Dead Common Tern

Cormorant

Looking for a fish

Great Crested Grebe

Fish Caught

Ebony and Ivory swans

Tortoise shieldbug

Family Photos

And finally just a few family photos from our day out.

Sibling love

Bubs practising her photography

Not sure what has bubs so concerned

Tree Peeking

A helping hand

Tubs explaining something

Zoe at Cathedral of Trees

More photography from bubs

Bubs selfie

Family at monastery

Zoe and I, photo by Toby

Other photos

Water skiing at Willen Lake (no idea who they are)

Willen Lake Water Skiing (no idea who they are)

Water skiing at Willen Lake (no idea who they are)

Daisy

Golden Buddha

Lions at Willen Lake

Close Lion

One of the friezes around the Peace Pagoda

Monks home

Large toadstool

Peace Pagoda at Willen Lake

Pagoda

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2 Comments

Potty Adventures
12 September, 2017 at 20:19 Reply
Oh we have days like this in the great outdoors too. Some days are just not meant to be are they. That said, you had a great fall back plan in geocaching and even managed to unearth those sunglasses. From that and your wonderful photos it's looks like things turned out well in the end. Thanks for joining us on #adventurecalling I hope you can again tomorrow.
The Helpful Hiker
13 September, 2017 at 09:05 Reply
All things considered, I think that counts as a fairly successful family day out. Not everything goes to plan, but still lots of fun! Don't tell anyone, but we often partake of a McDonalds breakfast on our way out somewhere, breakfast of champions-we even had one before walking Ben Nevis. I drove past Willen Lake this week, it's definitely on my list for our next day out. It looks fab, love the tree cathedral too. Thanks for joining us #AdventureCalling