Beacon

The day was full of sunshine
as we headed out, day three
of our walks on hills of Sussex
my brother Dave and me
This time to Ditchling Beacon
climbing chalky paths and hill
then into shady valleys
where the air was calm and still

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Rodmell

We climbed up to Firle Beacon
(It was really windy there)
and its wasn’t from the beans we’d had
for breakfast, to be fair!
The views across fair Sussex
were magnificent to see
on this second day of walking
for my brother Dave and me
And then downhill to Rodmell
in the valley of the Ouse
for well earned respite at the pub
followed by a snooze

Alfriston

We traversed Seven Sisters
high cliffs above the sea
Clear blues skies and sunshine
my brother Dave and me
There were lots of foreign students
around the tourist traps
but we left them all behind us
as we walked on, us two chaps

Eastbourne

Woke up to a morning
with zero chance of rain
Another perfect day
for our walkings once again
Starting here in Eastbourne
with the sun on deep blue sea
the day is full of promise
for my brother, Dave and me

The South Downs Way

To the South Downs Way
the brothers return again
retreading their steps

©Jemverse

Breathtaking II

2 of 5 in the Jemverse ’31’ series

The view up here on Devil’s Dyke
looking to the West
is I think in Sussex
one of the very best
In the fading distance
Chanctonbury Ring
and rolling up to that far point
the hills that make me sing

Mother Nature (4) – Rapeseed

Celebrating nature over
seven vibrant days
Her hand of wonder covered
in seven different ways

Day four and back to yellow
and in May the fields of Rape
Amazing and spectacular
there on the landscape

Achievement and Pride

We’ve walked a hundred miles
my brother Dave and me
The South Downs Way from Winchester
to Eastbourne by the sea
And when we reached the signpost
at the end we both agreed
that the feeling of achievement
was very good indeed

Day Five (Alfriston to Eastbourne)

And just when we needed the sunshine
there it was just like a friend
to enrich us and encourage
and spur us to the end

Day Four (Rodmell to Alfriston)

Arriving here at Alfriston
we found the Smugglers Inne
A sixteenth century ale house
for the sale of beer and gin
And although it’s not imposing
many secrets here it hides
for behind its small exterior
more than twenty rooms inside

Day three (Ditchling Beacon to Rodmell)

And if I thought the views I’d seen
were the best that Sussex had
The ones I saw today notched
things up more than a tad
For the ones across the valley
where the Ouse flows to the sea
were almost overwhelming
as we walked, my Bro and me

Day Two (Truleigh Hill to Ditching Beacon)

I guess around this time of year
there really has to be
a shot of bluebells in the woods
for they’re wonderful to see

Day One (Washington to Truleigh)

The view from the top
of Chanctonbury Hill
looking north into Sussex
is beautiful still

Counting the days

And I am watching time
I’m counting off the days
when I can tread those chalky paths
down hidden Downland ways

For the love of a good walk

Amberley to Washington
is around about six miles
There’s one particularly nasty hill
and several gates and stiles

The yellow road

Metalled by the Romans
on top of Bignor Hill
We came across the yellow road
heading homeward still
Mostly blue sky overhead
with tiny flecks of grey
The sunshine on the yellow shone
to show us both the way

Into Sussex

Crossed the border into Sussex
Chalk paths underfoot
Thirty miles behind us
Twenty more to go to boot

Houses for Eeyore

Down the hill from Butser
in the bright sunshine
to the ancient woodland there
heading for a climb
A forest that has been here
for a millennia at least
providing a dark canopy
atop a visual feast

Big sky

With a sky as big as big can be
we walked beneath the blue
Grey clouds skidding quickly past
keeping the sun in view

Old Winchester Hill

The delicate wings of Chalkland Blues
shimmer here as I stand quite still
As they feed upon wild marjoram
on the top of Old Winchester Hill

Fifty miles

From Hampshire through to Sussex
I have walked o’er vale and hill
with a full pack on my back
yet my legs are working still!

The weatherman’s promise

If the weatherman is right
about what will happen here this week
It’s going to get much warmer
and that is just the news we seek
For the waiting’s almost over
and in just a few more days
We’ll be heading off to Hampshire
to walk the South Downs Ways

Preamble

Thinking that I really ought
to get myself together
The High Trees circle beckoned
with a turning of the weather
Sun was shining bright and warm
and with Obi on the lead
We set off along the riverbank
at a reasonable speed

Two Circles revisited

We returned to the two circles
at the back of Findon Gorse
Following the South Downs Way
to Chanctonbury of course
Marvelling at the splendid views
of the Sussex weald below
we wandered back through Sussex green
through fields that we well know

A perfect day

Went for a wander up to the Ring
Just over five miles today
Took us a couple of hours in the sun
Along part of the South Downs Way

Completion

And then to cap it all we walked
along to Amberley
a circuit of some sixteen miles
My brother Dave and me