Recently in Walking Category

On the freshly charged scooter to Winchester, the train to Southampton, a free bus to the Town Quay for the start of the walk, (supposedly to Hamble although I didn't make it that far.)

I started with a look around the Quay, with car docks, ferries and restaurants. Strange shiny dome over the water:

We started at Iping Church in West Sussex, heading east towards Chithurst. In the first field behind the church, with horse trial paraphernalia in the middle and close cut grass, a dog joined us, running around and barking excitedly. He came with us as far as the stream whereby he stood in the water waiting for us to do something that usually happens when he stands in the stream.

By now the sun was out. The next field, just before Chithurst was horsey two, with new cresote fences enclosing thoughbreds, one with a very young pony.

We passed through Chithust just south of the Monastery, heading northe through an orchard of a variety of tall narrow trees, maybe being grown for towns and cities, then into a lovely meadow with views of the South Downs. The soil around here was very sandy, the paths being like those to a beach.

Then it was into the woods, Wick Wood then Hammer Wood. There was a garden open for charity so we had a look but it was more of a garden party, with creepy jazz music and men in cream suits cooking meat. We about turned, haunted by the music through the dark woods, floowing the steep bank. Very old trees. The last of the wood was managed by the monastery, where monks and nuns sit in solitude in huts among the trees. We left the woods where the nuns have their accommodation. Tibetan prayer flags in an English wood.

Then it was up the dark sunken lane and back into the sun, to follow the Lane back to Iping, home of the Invisible Man by H G Wells.

Not a 'Head Walk', whatever that is, but Cheesefoot Head is a viewpoint at the western end of the South Downs, close to Winchester.

I parked the scooter in the small carpark, after a very windy ride. The gales were strong up on the downs but that was the point, to feel the wind high up, warm on a sunny July morning.

I headed south through field of wheat, swaying and flowing in the wind, switching directions, oceanic. At least, I think it was wheat.

It was an open walk, with great views

Sometimes poppies among the grain

Then crossed the A272, heading north along Rodfield Lane, before picking up the South Downs Way, feeling like I was in the grain belt of England, or America

The tone changed as I came upon a field being converted into some kind of tank playground, exposing the chalk beneath

Then it was into the trees to return through Temple Valley to Cheesfoot, with views over Chilcomb down

In a cold north wind, warmer in sheltered valleys, we walked a loop from the top of Ashford Hangers to Hawkley. This is an area just north of Petersfield in Hampshire, north of 'Little Switzerland'. There's a couple of little streams, clear waters, at the foot of the hill, then the path rises to the village, with its church and small village green. Very old yew trees.



On the way back, the climb up the back of the Hangers was good and steep, working our legs and lungs hard. Some 4x4s had channelled deep tire ravines into the chalk clay. There were great views over to East Hampshire and to the south from the top.



After lunch we went to Winchester to get some stuff - bird feed (mainly for the duck couple who now live in our garden.) She is heavily pregnant and very hungry. She is very beautiful, a lighter brown than the usual, and I've fallen in love with her. Another female comes by too, with her 10 or so ducklings. And there is another set of them at Number 1, one a bright yellow like a chicken chick. C got wire for her homemade candle lanterns and I got my hair cut. I'm going to a more expensive barber next time; the cheap ones (not so cheap at £9) don't really listen to what you want. At Tesco we got shower smoothies and bath foams and yoghurt soda bread that it's hard not to eat in one day.

This evening we watched Prairie Home Companion. I didn't realise it was a real show until I looked it up later. It had some charm, but was mainly inconsequential. Woody Harrelson is very watchable. I am watching Empire Magazine's top 25 of 2007. That was number 24. 25 was Venus with Peter O'Toole, that had a lot more depth. But both basically luvvie movies. I guess critics like Industry movies, and as such Ratatouille got higher reviews than it would have done had it not featured a critic.

Dru Yoga Wake up and Sun Saluation this morning on waking. I feel an energy building up. The temptation is to try to do something about it, but what happens if you let it run its course?