Mushrooms

14 October 2012

I left at 6.15am. A cold star-lit morning with Venus and Jupiter and a lazy crescent moon my companions.

It was a stunning sunrise. Some Loganberries and Blackberries helped me on my way. I looked down from Gover Hill and a soft mist had descended into the Bourne valley toward Shipbourne. I picked some bulbous mushrooms to try (they checked out OK!) Doris Broad's bench was frosty! The Sun was on my back for breakfast at 8.15am.

Toward Basted Mill, there was a woodland mushroom as big as a dinner plate but there was no room in my bag, what with Apples, Damsons, Cobnuts and such-like. Shame!

My second break was at Ightham Mote in the Sun. And then I walked back home via Shipbourne with Buzzards crying above. A gorgeous morning for a walk (my bag a bit heavy now!).

Cobnuts

9th October 2012 7:46

It was a stunning sunrise with Hadlow Tower thrusting through a beautiful soft mist in the valley below. Collected some Cobnuts and a couple of apples for a crumble. Later two Buzzards were circling in the sun above myself and Dee and then a young Cormorant startled us at the River Bourne. Perfect morning!

Apple crumble, Damson crumble,
Greengage pie.
Through the hedge, out the orchard,
On the sly!

Black Swan

30th September 2012 4:34am

A cold morning and I had to scrape the windscreen. Picked up Dee and drove to Goudhurst. Weather just right for walking. We saw a black swan on a lake near Cranbrook - it wanted to eat Maisie (Dee's dog)! Nice break in Cranbrook Church yard. Lots of apples for the picking!

Autumn Equinox

23rd September 2012,

Back from Coldrum Longbarrow where Dee and I watched the Sun rise on this Autumn Equinox.

Knackered after 26k! Very warm now, but freezing at Coldrum. I didn't dance naked round the stones - too cold to get my willy out! Amazing sunrise. Got a picture of this special place with the rising Sun:

Apples and Damsons

17 September 2012

Cloudy but fairly cool this morning up here at Basted Mill. Loganberries, Blackberries, Apples and Damsons to keep me going. Now I'm off to Ightham Mote.

Gate trouble!

12 September 2012

It was a beautiful morning: chilly and misty in the valleys with the Moon high as the Sun rose. We went to Cranbrook for a 6 hour walk to Benenden and Iden Green. Fruit is ripe now with some in our bags! It got very warm early and almost too much when we arrived back at Cranbrook at 1:30pm.

Dee had trouble opening gates.

Saw a newly born Shire foal – gorgeous!

Bewl again

2nd September 2012

A fuzzy moon in the west, magenta sunrise in the east and a chilly 10C at 6.15am. A badger crossed my path in Combwell Woods, Kilndown!

The birds are flocking, Elderberries are hanging like jewels and the hops are ready. Soon be Autumn! Now I'm by Bewl Water drinking coffee and watching the Grebes diving. There is a Peewit across the other bank.
 

As I left Bewl Water, there was a Grey Heron which landed onto a branch near the water and a Grebe went for it with a great deal of noise and splashing. Sir Herne flew off!

Blackberries

28 August 2012

Dee and I stood on the hill in a field at Goudhurst and looked down on a Kestrel with our bino's as he hovered and moved on, hovered, then dropped to a mouse (or something small). His colour was gorgious in the sun. Perfect day for a walk: sunny with a cool northerly wind.

The blackberries taste good!

Kestrels

18th August 2012

Went to Kilndown with Di at 6.30am for a good walk to Goudhurst, Bedgebury and back. Lovely morning but 30 degrees by 9.30!

A dead Kestrel on the road to Bedgebury. A live one over Lady's Lake and a Buzzard over the forest!

Brimstone butterflies and lots of Devils Bit Scabious in the forest. The long climb back to Kilndown was worse than going up Red Pike: so hot!

Damselflies

12th August 2012

A lovely morning. We set out at 7am. Nettle-leaved Bell Flowers & Great Mullein are out and Speckled Wood butterflies. Also Banded Damoiselle Damselflies. Damsons will soon be ready and Blackberries already are!

Buzzard

29th July 2012

It was a bit chilly in the wind this morning! Left at 5.40am. Sun rising and a perfect blue sky. Watched a Buzzard flying low over the wheat field at Crouch. He looked splendid in the sunshine. Then Crows chased him off!

Chicken in a tree!

22nd July 2012

A lovely walk this morning with Dee, from Cranbrook round to Sissinghurst Castle. Perfect Summertime walk: through woods and tree-lined lanes. Meadowsweet, Rosebay Willowherb and Great Willowherb by the many streams and brooks.

And a chicken in a tree!

Thirsty!

15th July 2012

Set out at 6.30am. Quite chilly. Ground wet and muddy. There were a couple of showers and thunder around. Loganberries good! Left without water so had a drink from a water trough! Got my flask though. Had a shock: the old orchard at Doris Broad's bench over near Crouch has been cut down. Shame, lovely cookers. Great view over valley. Heard a Blackcap singing a pretty song.

Now I'm at Ightham Mote in the Sun for a coffee break. Bought some water in Plaxtol - thirsty!

Bewl Water

8th July 2012

Out with Dee this morning and sitting by Bewl Water. Lovely day. Watching the Terns diving. And a Grebe asleep on the water!

Dee gave me a splendid 60th birthday present: a plaque of our Coast to Coast Walk, made by herself. A wonderful thing!

Journey back

1st July 2012

Pinch, punch it's the first of the month!

A very pleasant walk along the cliffs at the end of the Coast to Coast with Kay while away for my 60th birthday. We came across a few cows which were on the cliff-top foot path. Kay would not go over the stile,
so we avoided them which involved some scrambling and a barbed wire fence!

Didn't walk yesterday as the journey back from Robin Hood's Bay was horrendous! Left at 9.15am, arrived home at 7pm. All sorts of hold-ups - I was knackered!

Loganberries

25th June 2012

It pissed hard Sunday morning, but today is gorgeous! Having breakfast on Doris Broad's bench. My new gaiters are keeping my feet and legs dry. Loganberries are nearly ready, Cobnuts are beginning and Walnuts are little green furry balls.


Three score years is enough for any man,
It's more than the stranger managed.
What were his thoughts before he became 
The subject of grief and conjecture?

Breakfast in a wheatfield

17th June 2012

Baby sat the Grandchildren this morning, so a late start. Parked in Kilndown and walked through Shearnfold Wood (lovely) and down to Bewl Water. Breakfast in a wheat field with my back against an Oak tree. Very pleasant. A Buzzard overhead. A pheasant walked close by and didn't see me! Now for Chinglea and back to the car.

Fik fog!

10th June 2012

Fik fog and a cool 8C when I left at 6am for Ightham Mote. The bird song is tremendous this morning. Just been visited by Mr Chaffinch - very friendly and hungry. A lot warmer now - 16C and breakfast more comfortable than the last time I was here!

Bacon roll

3rd June 2012
Had a very pleasant walk with Ju in the rain (and Poppy the dog who dragged her along). Parked at Dene Park Woods, then walked to Ightham Mote expecting a bacon roll and coffee at the restaurant. No chance, closed! And Ju was miffed as I promised her a treat. Oh dear! Nice walk though.


With an empty belly and wet and cold,
When anticipation takes a hold,
There's nothing like a hot bacon roll
To fill the pit and warm the soul.

Bluebells ended

27th May 2012
Left at around 5.30am with the Sun up and a balmy 14C. On Gover Hill, could see over T/Wells, Crowborough and beyond. As Chestnut canopy is full, Bluebells have ended. Red Campion has taken over. The Apple blossom is falling now. Wild Garlic (Ransoms) for dinner - great in gravy. Very warm now at 9am. glad I bought extra water! It smells like summer.

100 mile cycle event

21st May 2012
A chilly wind when I set out at 6am for Tonbridge Castle via Golden Green. Saw a Cuckoo calling on top of an Oak. Met Dee for a free coffee and biscuit at the annual 100 mile cycle ride start, then on to Hoad Common. Sat by Hilden Brook for breakfast. At Hoad Common now. Bit warmer.

Lords and ladies

13th May 2012
A chilly 3 degrees at 6am. Could barely see the Sun through the mist. Said hello to Mrs Cow and Mr Rabbit, then up into the sunshine on Gover Hill. Like on a mountain above the clouds. Hurst Woods a carpet of blue. Lords and Ladies emerging: a phallic spike thrusting and piercing the verdant hymen!
A pair of Peewits just flew by. At last a Cuckoo! Now under a Copper Beech in Yopps Green. On the way, a Grey Heron on a shed roof by the Bourne!

Coralroot

6th May 2012
A damp morning, but still a lovely day. Hawthorn is in blossom, yellow Figwort and White dead Nettle are in flower. primroses are still going strong: it must be the cold and wet weather. A tiny bit of Sun at Bedgebury was a surprise! There is a small group of Coralroot at Rodgers Rough, Kilndown. It's quite rare. My bum muscles ache from all that tiling!

Wild and wet

29th April 2012
Well, it's a wild and wet morning and no mistake! I'm in a bus shelter in Shipbourne for breakfast. Although it's dismal, the Apple blossom is still splendidly pink and the Bluebells are very brave in the wind.
The lambs look forlorn trying to stay out of the weather behind a tree or mum. I've seen nobody this morning. Must press on!

Memories

22nd April 2012
Diana has joined me today on a perfect morning for a walk. Sunny and cool. Violets have joined the Wood Anemone and Celandine. The Horse Chestnut candles are almost in blossom. A Kestrel hovering overhead looking for a vole and rabbits gamboling nearby. And the first Swallows on a wire at Gatehouse, Kilndown! It makes this time a little better.


At times like this, home is the place
To remember the things that matter to me.
A perfect Spring day, a friend to share
This place, a memorial to my days.

Mum died

21st April 2012
I shall be walking tomorrow. Mum died this morning around 6am, so I need a good walk, Dee. I would love it if you could join me?

A break

15th April 2012
My sister is with Mum, so I can walk. left early and the Sun rose as I walked up through Oxen Hoath. Were there 4 or 5 hares and one leveret skipping around in the Sun? The wind is bitter and the sky is clear. Sheep with lambs in the orchard at Doris Broad's bench.


The contrast was alarming.
Darkness was driven away
With the sights and sounds of
The heritage I long for.

Mum

11th April 2012
Well Dee, I was hoping to walk today after tiling half of the room. But mum took a turn for the worst Saturday night and now my sisters and I are sitting with her. She is on morphine and sleeps a lot. Just now she asked for a jam doughnut. She hadn't eaten since last Saturday. I had to run up the road!

Wood Anemones

6th April 2012
I'm on a walk from Brenchley to Goudhurst and back with Di. Beautiful day. Saw Great Crested Grebes dancing on Furnace Pond, Horsmonden. Blankets of Wood Anemones at Sprivers. Breakfast by Goudhurst Pond.

Boethius tried to understand his imminent death.
He tied himself in knots.
The conclusion he came to,
When all is said and done, the fault lies with God.

Fieldfare going

1st April 2012
A frosty start and magenta Sunrise. Bluebells are out, Damsons and pears are in blossom and the Sun is warm on my back. A Robin was singing amongst Blackthorn blossom, so pretty. A couple of Fieldfare flew over going North East. About time!

Warming up!

24th March 2012
As I'm working on Sunday, I've managed a walk today. Brilliant sunshine. I must remove some layers. Saw flocks of Fieldfare. They are late going North. A Skylark is singing above me as I feast on nuts, seeds and other strange things. A Bumble bee has just paid a visit. The gas guns are noisy!
Wood Anemone, Milkmaids and some Celandine are out and the sap is rising in the Balsam Poplar. Tortoiseshell butterflies are out and about.
Spring has sprung!

Lambs everywhere!

18th March 2012
It is a glorious morning. I parked in Kilndown. I'm sitting by the Tiese listening to the birds. There are lambs everywhere. I'm tripping over them!
I've just seen a Yellow Hammer, a Brimstone butterfly, and now a Chiffchaff is annoying me.

Peace

11th March 2012
Hello Walking Buddy. I'm sitting on an upturned bucket drinking my coffee by the Tiese between Lamberhurst and Hook green. The Sun is warm and it's very peaceful here near the river.

Please someone rescue me
From the misery.
I can't breathe without the quietude
I crave for.

Woodpecker

4th March 2012
On the way I saw a Woodpecker drumming; his head a blur. And then a Skylark high and singing. Blackthorn in flower. I'm at Ightham Mote under my brolly eating flapjacks and chilli rice crackers (very hot). 2 ducks sitting on the ridge of the roof!

Primroses

26th February 2012

Out with Di and her little dog Maisie this morning. Frosty start but sunny and Warm now. Not so many Fieldfare about. They are on their way back to Russia. Primroses out!

Catkins and Snowdrops

19th February 2012
Set out at 6.15am. In the East the sky magenta and honey, with the crescent Moon looking down. Up at Gover Hill, watched the Sun rise. So beautiful I could weep! Frosty and crunchy underfoot and frozen puddles. Cobnut catkins out and Snowdrops in the woods. The Fieldfare are still chattering in the orchards. Hands freezing!

Water froze!

12th February 2012
Minus 6 when I set out. Ground rock hard. The water in my water bladder tube froze! Pretty Sunrise, then snow. Now frozen rain. Hot soup and coffee looking over Bourne valley.

Foggy walk

29th January 2012, 8:45am
Dark, cold and foggy when I set out. Now it's light, cold and foggy! I'm on Doris Broad's bench up at Crouch. There must be a million Redwings or Fieldfares in the orchard! What a racket!
Cont.
I left the bench going into the woods before Basted Mill, and a Crow was chasing a Buzzard! The bird landed in the tree right there in front of me! Right there! All excited!

Jupiter

22nd January 2012, 8:59am
Left at 6:30 under the stars guided by Jupiter and my head torch. Pink sky in the east. Cloudy now. I'm on the old wooded walk which goes around to King's Hill. It is still freezing at the Rock!
I'm now at the lookout on Gover Hill watching a Buzzard over the Bourne Valley! Like you, I forgot my cup, so I'm drinking out of the milk container!