In Texas, state parks are the main way of getting out into some countryside, and they are almost invariably centred around a reservoir. Back in the UK, the network of public footpaths means that you don't have to go to a designated area to walk around. However, a proper country footpath often involves mud, brambles, stiles and other such pushchair-unfriendly obstacles, so we have found that, even here, reservoirs are still quite useful, not to mention beautiful, places to walk. A few weeks ago we visited Staunton Harold reservoir, just south of here. Rain and snow had fallen overnight and frozen, so the visitor centre car park was closed, and the circular southern car park, when we found it, was doing an excellent impression of a skating rink. Having slid the car into a parking space, we skied gingerly down an icy hill, and a beautiful vista of the lake opened up before us. We might have been content to drink in the view for a while, but Toby took one look and demand
Getting through life one cake at a time.