December is a long decline to the solstice, Dec 21, when days get longer and we can look forward to spring. If winter comes can spring be far behind? Here in Canterbury it’s 4pm and almost dark. Sixteen hours to dawn. We’ve had bright frosty blue sky days, good for walking. And damp dull daysContinue reading “Winter is here”
Tag Archives: walking
Routine walk
A walk is a walk. Routine walk can be made interesting. Tue July 5th i had appointment at Kent &Canterbury Hospital to give a blood sample. Had to collect duvet from laundrette. Hoped to collect annual from Kent County Cricket Club. Because of bulk, duvet comes last. Part of the fun is devising a route,Continue reading “Routine walk”
Rough Common notes
Short walk as countryside access warden in Rough Common, about three km WNW of Canterbury. First drove to Red Lion Cottage on A290 for bags of manure. Parked Church Wood Close, leading to Sidney Cooper Close. Wearing coat, mainly cos i need pockets. Bit breezy up here. Path CB503. Replaced tatty endmarker on fingerpost. FingerContinue reading “Rough Common notes”
Mud glorious mud
Second visit to Tong Wood and Ellenden Wood about six km northwest of Canterbury. As countryside access warden, expected an easy walk along bridleways. Being used by horses and cyclists they are often wider and clearer than footpaths. Parked by Denstroude Lane for planned two mile walk. Usual worries about weather and fitness. After galesContinue reading “Mud glorious mud”
Two Kent villages
Two villages: Selling and Chillenden. Two kinds of walking, solo and in a group. Two parts of my life. Selling is a scattered place between Canterbury and Faversham. Old English Sellingas, hall dwellers. The church, school and white Lion pub are about a mile from the train station, which is at Neames Forstal on OSContinue reading “Two Kent villages”
Happy New Year
Christmas is over, New Year is over. Whatever our customs and rituals, the days lengthen and we can look forward to spring. Though worst of winter is yet to come. My resolutions will be secret except for walking. Intend to continue as Countryside Access Warden and with Datrows (Dover and Thanet Rights of Way Society)Continue reading “Happy New Year”
Autumn in the woods
What is autumn? Days get shorter and cooler. Fruits ripen. Leaves fall from deciduous trees. Walkers can enjoy cool dry sunny days, or endure cold wet days which don’t get properly light. Climate change ripens fruit earlier. If it delays winter does that mean longer autumn? As a countryside access warden i visited Ellenden Wood,Continue reading “Autumn in the woods”
Chestnutting
Season of mists and fruitfulness. Damp in the air as i drove to Rough Common, about 3km northwest of Canterbury, for chestnuts. Usually go there in time for halloween and bonfire night. Somehow forgot this year. A circuit of Stockwood, part of Blean Woods which stretch 4km west to Dunkirk. “Blean” means rough ground. AlwaysContinue reading “Chestnutting”
Hernhill revisited
A second visit to Hernhill, about five km east of Faversham. Name means “at the grey hill” Looking at loose ends: footpaths which don’t easily connect with my previous visit as a countryside access warden. Thursday Nov 4th, my sister’s birthday, was cloudy with cold wind from the north. Almost cancelled plan when radio mentionedContinue reading “Hernhill revisited”
Two sloe walks
Autumn: time to pick sloes, bitter fruit of the blackthorn. Some make sloe gin. Don’t like gin. For years i’ve made sloe vodka, adding sloes and sugar to the spirit. Usually i do countryside access warden work on Thursdays. Planned a local walk on October 7th to check on a hole i’d filled and seekContinue reading “Two sloe walks”
Rambling Brummie 