27
January 2013
It's
great weather for ducks! It rained all night and was still raining as
I left at 6.30am. I could hear the ducks over at the river. The
ground is completely sodden; if the water can't run off, it lays in
great lakes. There were some fresh mole hills at the top of Oxen
Hoath. It must be pretty damp down there!
As
I entered Hurst Wood, the rain stopped but there was still a strong
wind - that was OK, I needed to dry the backs of my legs. The cloud
was quite low as there was an orange glow on them from the road lamps
at Tonbridge.
There
were still small clumps of snow in sheltered spots on Greensand Ridge
and water was laying over ice on the Wealdway track. That was a
surprise!
In
the wood, I turned left down an ancient track and past Old Soar
Manor. Then over the Bourne (full to overflowing) and up the hill to
Plaxtol and Yopps Green. At Yopps Green, I went west into Scathes
Wood up on the Ridge. I found a bench cut out of a tree and facing
south across the valley and Ightham Mote. Leek and potato soup,
coffee and home-made bread for breakfast. Bliss!
I
went from here, past the Mote, through Shipbourne and Dene Park
Woods. There were gun shots over at Budds - a big shoot on from
Fairlawne I suppose.
I
had another break in Dene Park. I sat against a young oak with the
Sun on my good looks. Someone let off both barrels in the field in
front of me and I nearly dropped my coffee!
The leaves are
budding and the catkins are out. There was a Sky Lark singing in the
field out of Clearhedges! Very mild this morning - I got quite warm!
The purgatory has ended. I stand in my boots and weep With relief and gratitude, To see the hue of the future.
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