Purple Pollen Harvest

Met up with Child No. 2 for a good walk.  I had planned on a 5k walk along the old canal bank through East Challow; but it turned out a key part of the route - a BOAT (Byway Open to All Traffic) was closed by Oxfordshire County Council for regrading and maintenance.  

There are a large number of these routes closed; but no work is being done (what with one thing and another!)  The diversion added a further 3k; but it was worth it.  A nice couple we met told us we could have used the field boundary - the farmer was very accommodating - but we were set up for the extra walk, plenty to talk about.

There was a huge thistle in the very near where we parked; and I swear this bee was in the same place at the end of 90 minutes, gorging on the thistle flower.  It did manage to fly off!