Stretching

The big oaks at the corner
stretch their leaves to gather the evening sun.

Advertisements

Little Bridge

Fording ‘cross a gentle stream
at the bottom of the field
Down some steps cut to the bank
a little bridge revealed

A wander, some mud and the Ring

Walking up from Washington
in excellent company
The South Downs up above us
so we’ve plenty here to see
And the rain that fell here overnight
has gone and in good time
For our wanderings this morning
as the weather’s dry and fine

Ridgeway

Tombs, forts and settlements
String the Ridgeway
As beads on a necklace
Testifying to ancient use

Fosbury Fort

Skylarks sing and soar
We walk encircling ramparts
Gazing at the still deep ditch

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

Long Awaited

A day long awaited
arrives and I’m ready
Gear is all packed
and weather looks steady
Dry bags for the rain
if it comes just in case
But I’m hoping that they
will remain in their place

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

Eight Miles

Eight miles took us past the Ring
where the view as ever was
breathtaking in the sunshine
on the South Downs here because
(and I know that some will argue)
but this is heaven here on earth
A place that God has smiled upon
and with riches given worth

Because we can

We’ll walk on the beach
at low tide on the sand
as dusk descends swiftly
and everything’s grand
With the lights from the city
out there to the East
Shining bright like a beacon
for a visual feast

These dusty trails

I walk these dusty trails
the sun above my head
towards the hazy hills beyond
to which I have been led

Project Walk

Elena on the G-EO Walking System

Two feet in the morning
I walked or ran each day

I used to take for granted
what is a struggle now today

In ’93 Doc’s said MS
the rollercoaster ride began

Went for a walk

Went for a walk
down by the sea
Near to the waves
as they sang to me

Steep

Descending down to Kingston
the Drovers path was steep
So we all walked slow together
like a little herd of sheep

Shadow Play

It followed me from Brighton
up to the South Downs Way
staying well behind me
but close enough, I’d say
I know that it was with me
though when e’er I turned around
it always made itself quite scarce
as no trace of it I found

A long walk to the pub

We went on a long walk to Lewes
Along the old Drovers way
Following the ancient Trail of Juggs
on a wonderful sunny day

Widewater Teazles

Widewater teazles
on a cold winter’s day
the air was quite frigid
and the water was grey

There was no-one around
when we got there at three
Just Obi and Basil, our dogs
Sal and me

Fog on the Ring – tanka

Fog thick as pea soup
shrouds the Sussex countryside
Trees hide like shadows
Quiet whispers, coy and shy
as again I climb the Ring

Heron

Yesterday in St James’ Park
catching Pokemon on my phone
I spotted by the waterside
a heron all alone

A certain privilege

At sunset the beach huts
the darkening sky
the almost silent sound
of a gull passing by
On the shingle we wander
watching the sea
A slackened tide turning
a good place to be

Beach blues

Took myself for a walk on the beach
for an hour at lunchtime today
There were seagulls out there sunbathing
and blue flowers on display

Ten thousand

Walked ten thousand steps today
recorded on my wrist
Still need to get my head round that
but I think I’ve got the gist
An early birthday present
tracking fitness on my phone
Syncing all by Bluetooth
where my progress is then shown

Into Sussex

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

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