Happy Birthday Winnie the Pooh

Please report back if you get there.

Years ago I drove from Calgary to Toronto and stopped in White River in Northern Ontario where the real bear the story was based upon came from. He was brought to England with a Canadian solider during the war. The solider was from Winnipeg, hence the name Winnie.
In case you are every in Northern Ontario you can visit a statue.

https://www.northernontario.travel/algoma-country/experience-the-birthplace-of-winnie-the-pooh

I live reasonably close to the Ashdown Forest and have been for many walks there, but not since the Covid lockdowns. Last time I was there, the little water there was under the bridge was clogged up with sticks. It was all a bit of a mess.

The local news featured an article a few months back that a tree had fallen on the bridge and it was closed indefinitely. I haven’t heard any update. Walks in the forest are more interesting than the bridge.

Wendy- thank you for the article about the real Winnie the bear. I love learning the history behind my favorite stories. I live in West Virginia and have seen quite a few black bears in the wild. I definitely wouldn’t recommend hand feeding them or trying to ride one. LOL

Jennifer- it sounds like you live in lovely area. I do hope they rebuild the bridge. It looks like a beautiful place to go walking.

Thank you Stacie.
What a lovely article. I’m booked on the 5/2 “Southern England Tour” and I’d love to visit this place as well. Thank you for giving me something to research and learn about.
Can’t wait till next May!
Ann

Thanks for this! I have fond memories of reading Winnie The Pooh with my mom when I was a tot!
Would love to take a walk in the Ashdown Forest.
RS Southern England tour--you are in for a real treat--lucky you!

Thank you for posting this Stacie.

I grew up with Winnie-the-Pooh stories, such happy memories of my dad reading them to me every night. Raised my son reading the stories to him, so we both love Winnie-the-Pooh… the original version, not the Disney version, lol. We have a charming bridge in a State Park near us and we play Pooh Sticks there. We even named our new puppy Winnie 💕 I’d love to visit Ashdown Forest someday as well.

Ann- I’m on the 6/27 SE tour. I’d love to hear all about your trip. I can hardly wait till June! Happy travels!!

Susan- I absolutely agree….there is no substitute for the original story.

I’m glad that so many of you enjoyed the article too. It inspired me to order the original Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner to read to my first graders this year. Happy reading!!

My wife, the brains of our partnership, loves all thing WTP - so we have definitely been to the area.
We've played Pooh sticks on that bridge.
I've been stung by a bee on that bridge.
I've been paddling in the stream under the bridge to retrieve the glasses that fell off when I was stung by the bee!

Of course, on our 25th anniversary trip to New York, I had to take my beloved to the children's library to see Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore. She had no idea they were there - I think it may have been the highlight of a glorious trip.

That’s a delightful article. Near its end, it quotes Christopher Robin saying, “Pooh, promise you won’t forget about me, ever. Not even when I’m a hundred.” Imagine that - in three weeks, now, Pooh’s going to be 100! I actually would’ve guessed he was even older than that.

Tim- Thanks for the delightful account of your experiences at Pooh Bridge. While reading it, I pictured you as Mr. Bean. 😂😂