This picture is taken from near Boscastle, looking north east up the coast towards Bude. I walked sections of the path down to Tintagel and up to Hartland Point. One day I will complete the entire route, so beautiful is it.
Walking
30 Jan 2011
More driving practice for C with a run over to Harting Down. How delicious is it up there, especially with the sun out, blue skies, and the crisp morning air. We walked for a couple of hours over to Beacon Hill then down into the valleys to the south.
View of South Harting and beyond:
The climb ahead to Beacon Hill:
Views east along the downs:
Catkins in the sunshine:
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If you used to watch LOST and are feeling a little incomplete, all you have to do is answer these questions to tidy it all up:
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Polar Bears Status. Sad news of declines:
Don’t think global warming is real? Think the data is wrong? Think it’s a conspiracy to keep us in fear? Think it’s not man-made but a natural cycle? Regardless what you think, here are Met Office Observations Consistent with a Warming World:
And sea temperature anomalies data from eight different sources:
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Favourite track at the moment is The Roots Feat. Joanna Newsom – Right On. Great merging of styles, bass line on the chorus and that live drumming ticking along. Newsom’s voice is really growing on me.
“Right On” by The Roots (feat. Joanna Newsom & STS) from Bigger Than Blogging on Vimeo.
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Steps stepped: 8877
28 Jan 2011
Walked the loop past Black House Farm over towards Hinton, fast moving clouds allowing the morning sun through once or twice. Good to walk locally sometimes, each time getting more and more of a feel for Brockwood’s relationship with the landscape. After six years, the feeling still deepens of just where we live. I am so grateful to be able to live in the countryside, with open parkland, woods, fields and winding lanes. Views to the downs are just a shot walk away.
At midday I was in Alresford for a dental checkup, the first with Alresford Dental Care. What a difference to the St Cross Winchester practice where I was rushed in and out again in a few minutes. The new dentist obviously likes her job and is very professional. She was even enthusiastic in relaying how my teeth meet, what causes the sharpness I feel at the front, the fractures in one tooth that may need attention. Nothing needing doing.
This afternoon, C and I went to Gunwharf for a birthday meal and to see a film. C drove all the way in. Good on her! It went very well, and in the busiest and biggest city she’s ever driven in. We saw Barney’s Version. Hmmm, well, it’s one of those adult films – no, not that kind of adult film, but you know, adult issues, adult neurosis, adult fuck-ups. I suppose I was supposed to like the main character, or at least feel for his plight but I didn’t much. Most of the scenes worked well and the acting was good. It’s just that I didn’t care much. And it starts with a grumpy man and flashes back from there, so you know not much is going to change.
Back home, a present sent from Sweden, a Haglöfs ‘Tight’ medium daypack. It fits snugly to the back and is designed to move with your back. I still have a MacPac I bought over 15 years ago which I am fond of, but I will use the Haglöfs on longer walks.
First day of no yoga or sitting in four weeks. Tomorrow I may try some Dru yoga again.
Humans: Crap at walking straight
A nice animation highlighting the fact that without visual reference we cannot go in a straight line. It’s funny to see the routes people took in the experiments, even when driving.
Incidentally, even with visual reference, our walking in a straight line waves left and right. It’s not proof but here’s a picture I took of a Cornish beach which shows this:
I remember reading in (the late) Lyall Watson’s Gifts of Unknown Things how on the Indonesian island he visits, this means the footpaths have a natural rhythm to them as they sway through the landscape. Maybe like an English country lane, and not at all like a Roman road.
6 Jan 2011
The first full day of the Yewfield retreat. The daily schedule:
0800 Silent meeting
0830 Breakfast
0915 Cleaning
0945 Krishnamurti video
1100 Hiking
1300 Lunch
1500 Silent meeting
1530 Dialogue
1700 Cooking for some
1930 Supper
The hike was very enjoyable, and the sun shone for the first time in what seems like weeks. We hiked an hour over to Black Crag, a rocky hill at about 330 meters. Fine views to Windermere, Hawkshead, Conitston Water, the Irish sea in the far distance, and to the north, the southern fells including The Old Man of Coniston, Weatherlam, Langdale Pikes, Hellvelyn. We returned via a frozen Tarn Hows. Back for a lunch of leek and potato soup.
View over Windermere:
The dialogue was on the communication of another kind of learning of the inner life of man, instead of just on outward achievement. We ventured slowly to talk about the hold of apparent security over us all and how even though we know there really is no security it is so powerful, and why that might be.
We were the cooking team this evening , where Hersha led Derwent, Bill, Fran and I through cooking a south Indian curry and dhal, with some kind of milk and wheat desert. I only had a little of the spicy vegetables because the spices send me buzzing and the taste lingers in the mouth for days as well as the smell on the skin. But it was quite mild.
I woke in the night, clear, awake, fresh, very present. And didn’t go back to sleep all night, but for a few drifts during yoga nidra. A gentle day six of the yoga course this morning.
2 Jan 2011
Was full of energy last night and wasn’t sleepy until after midnight. I then slept until gone 0900 with some drama filled dreams of which I can’t remember. It’s rare that my dreams don’t contain trouble of some sort. Last night’s were tinged with the remnants of Winter’s Bone.
We spent the morning on another driving session. Again, a big improvement. C felt like a driver rather than a learner, and I didn’t do much of that pressing on the floor when I feel out of control in the passenger seat. We stopped at Sparsholt, out the other side of Winchester to take a walk in the countryside, passing through the grounds of Lainston House, a fine country house built in 1700. It’s now a hotel, it’s residents including Ricky Gervais and Sting (who maybe shared a suite).
Veggie stew for lunch, then a little sleep. Skimmed through The Magicians from last night’s TV. This street magic trick with Mr Banjo of Diversity had me wondering:
I suppose the bench isn’t really a bench, or he’s lying on a ledge behind the back rest. Or it’s just, even more boringly, videoshopping and stooges. On the whole the programme made Derren Brown look like a sublime genius.
Imagine the whole of France and Germany flooded – that’s what’s happened in Australia. Worse floods on record. This is why they call it climate change not global warming. Weather patterns are getting more and more unpredictable and extreme. More to come no doubt.
Yoga around 1700 for an hour, with 15 mins sitting. A basic class with Triangle, chest openers, cobra, seated forward bend. During the sitting I felt a sick dizziness close by that seemed to be generating the ceaseless thinking. I went towards this sickness and was engulfed in a kind of drunk haze, yet was somehow surprised to find that I was still sitting still and straight.
Watched some of Countryfile for the part with the Severn Bore, a small tidal wave that channels up the narrowing estuary on the spring tide. The record for riding it continuously is 7.5 miles, but the daft presenter only manages a little surf.
Later, watched Salt, in which the lady with the big eyes, pouty lips and cutest nose prevents nuclear Armageddon in a rather brutal and twisty manner, with a hint of Bourne.
Weekend Walk 23 – Around Brockwood Park in the Snow
Wandering around the grounds of Brockwood Park after the second snowfall of the season.
Weekend Walk 22 – East Worldham, Hampshire
A circular from the village of East Worldham, past King John’s Hill along the Hangers Way through park and woodland to Hartley Mauditt, then north to West Worldham and along Warners Hanger to the start.
Weekend Walk 21 – West Meon in the Snow
Through deep snow (for the UK) and thick fog to West Meon. Very quiet. A little eery. Highly enjoyable. Sorry, my lens was damp by the end leading to some warping.
Weekend Walk 20 – Pycombe to Woodingdean
Unlike the WNW-ESE direction of the previous South Downs Way walks, this one took a turn south half way through, roaming over the downs towards the ridge between Brighton and Lewes. The walk took in the Clayton Windmills, Ditchling Beacon, Black Cap hill, across the A27 and railway. I then cut west to get to Woodingdean where it was easy to get back to the car via Brighton.
Weekend Walk 19 – Selborne, Hampshire
From the village of Selborne in Hampshire, up the Zig-Zag path to Selborne Common, leaving on the west side across to Wick Hill, then back to the village via Long Lythe
Weekend Walk 18 – Steyning to Pyecombe
Deep into West Sussex, the 100 mile walk continued on Saturday. From Steyning, back west to pick up the trail then across the Adur valley to Truleigh Hill. Along the ridge past Fulking to Devil’s Dyke, major tourist attraction. Down to Saddlecombe and a last climb over New Timber Hill.
Weekend Walk 17 – Amberley to Steyning (South Downs Way)
The ninth stage of my South Downs Way adventure, picking it up after a break over summer. Up to the downs from Amberley, the half way point, with amazing views to the north and south, to Chanctonbury Ring and the town of Steyning. The path really opened up during this stage as we move past Littlehampton and Worthing, towards Brighton.
Weekend Walk 16 – Duncton to Amberley (South Downs Way)
Today I went up on the South Downs again, reaching the half way point at Amberley in West Sussex. A very warm day. From Littleton Farm south of Duncton, up onto Bignor Hill and across the Arun Valley to Amberley. Found myself in the middle of a cross country run. Poor blighters, sweating up on the hills. I was also sweating up on the hills but at least I didn’t gotta run.
Weekend Walk Video 15 – Cocking to Duncton
Duncton. The best village name ever. I’m not biased.
From the village of Cocking, onto Heyshott and Graffham Downs. Mainly through woods this time. Then down the West Sussex Literary Trail past Duncton Mill to the Cricketers Pub.
The drizzle started pretty much as soon as I got on the high ground and didn’t much let up. Got steadily soaked, especially when walking through the drenched rape crop.
All new territory, deeper into West Sussex.
Weekend Walk: Steep and Ashford Chace
Starting at the village of Steep, near Petersfield in Hampshire. We parked next to the church, just next to Bedales School, attended by Lily Allen, Daniel Day-Lewis and John Wyndham. Just the three of them. In a class together. The church has an interesting wood beamed tower, with tile cladding.
It was a sunny morning, and walking through the woods was delightful. Such abundance of new growth, and the bluebells near their full glory.
This area between Ashford Hangers and Petersfield is known as Little Switzerland. Very little. But quite charming. The hangers rise sharply to the north west.
I like how the puce of the smaller tree brings out the colour of the copper beech’s new leaves:
Back into the woods and across Ashford Stream. Dappled light all around.
Weekend Walk No. 14 – Elsted to Cocking (South Downs Way)
Permission to say “Cocking”. The sixth stage of my South Downs Way hike, West to East. From the village of Elsted in West Sussex, up through the woods onto the rolling downland before descending to the village of Cocking. Glorious spring day, feeling like early summer.
Weekend Walk 13 – Buriton to Elsted (South Downs Way)
The fifth stage of my South Downs Way hike, starting from Buriton in Hampshire, finishing in Elsted, West Sussex. Past the Vandalian Tower, Harting Down, and the second Beacon Hill of the Way, then to Treyford and Elsted in the Rother Valley.
I always feel West Sussex is an ‘odd’ county. I like it but it’s spooky and slightly weird. This tower didn’t help.
Weekend Walk 12 – East Meon to Buriton (South Downs Way)
The fourth stage of my South Downs Way hike, from the village of East Meon up to HMS Mercury, Butser Hill and the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, finishing in Buriton, Hampshire.
Weekend Walk 11 – West Meon to East Meon (South Downs Way)
Here’s the next walk video I made during a very enjoyable hike yesterday. A sunny day with snow. From West Meon along the Meon Trail, up to Old Winchester Hill when the snow came, then into Combe valley and to East Meon.
Falling Awake 