The Kingfisher

Maidenhead to Langley
25 Oct 2014
11 people
29 km,18 miles

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A kingfisher, a kingfisher, my companions cried

I turned around too slowly, nothing for to see

But heard the flapping wings of lively swans

Beating low onto the water of the river Thames.

We saw a sporting stone at Cookham village

Where Stanley Spencer used to live and paint

The shadows of Profumo in Cliveden's park

Lunch at the Riot Club for £10.60 each.

Russet woodlands and a tiny pleasure pond

Temple paths through Langley's country park

Autumn evening sunlight low across our way

Our train comically delayed on our way home.

Epicureans

Hassocks to Lewes
27 Sep.  2014
8 people
24 km, 15 miles

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There used to be two windmills up that hill

But Jill now mourns the sorry loss of Jack

And us behind pretty women on horseback

Staring at horses' shapely brown backsides.

Farmers went about their earthy Autumn jobs

Beaters waited with white flags and dogs

To flush pheasants out of the undergrowth

Dark woods with gold and russet leaves.

We feasted on fresh sea fish and cool wine

At Plumpton inn, under the Half Moon sign

Walked briskly on up that precipitous path

Over the Downs and along the River Ouse.

Evening on the North Bank

Cannon Street to Greenwich
3 December 2014
7 miles
14 people

We walked on air in the golden evening sun
Where city pubs sold out of champagne
Crimson poppies thronged by the Tower
Bascules of the bridge opened in greeting.

Narrow cobbled streets bathed in sunlight
Canary Wharf's great golden obelisk ahead
The sun slowly setting behind our backs
The Greenwich tunnel to drink and food.

A day on the river

Greenwich to Cheshunt
22 August 2014
9 people
31 km; 19 miles

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The nether regions under the Thames

Docklands emptied of its weekday throng

Relics of our ancient maritime might

That grassy ropewalk in a peaceful park.

The Limehouse Cut bright toothy murals 

Monuments of Stratford's Olympic park

People playing about on coloured boats

Callow youths whizzing by on bicycles.

A water rat at lunch outside the Princess pub

Groups of seated fishermen casting lines

The first few russet coloured autumn leaves

All these we saw walking along the river Lea.

The verdant woods of Surrey

Witley to Clandon
20 July 2014
19 miles
5 people

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Through the leafy groves of Witley
We five strolled the Greensand Way
Hambledon's prospect of Black Down
Hascombe's pretty village and pond.

Wintershall farm's donkeys and stage
A pub feast at the Grantley Arms
Wonersh village green and church
Where once stood six great manors.

An open air concert at Albury park
A ululating lady singing in the sun.
A steep ascent to the North Downs
A quiet woodland walk to Clandon.

The Ghost of Electricity

The Beverley Brook Walk
3 July 2014
7 people
14.4km; 9 miles

The Thames at Putney Bridge

Where boatmen mess around with sculls

This warm and balmy summer eve.

The shady banks of the Beverley Brook

Sunlight shining through green leaves

The manicured lawns of playing fields.

Richmond Park where lovers lie

Looking longinly at each other 

A group of stags in long grass rest.

Caesar's camp atop Wimbledon Hill

An ancient iron transformer house

Where dwells the Ghost of Electricity. 

Our holiday in St Ives, Cornwall

St Ives, Cornwall
A holiday with HF Holidays
31st May to 5th April 2014.

Day 1

We walked skimming the clifftops

Unsteady feet on random rocky paths

The Tinners Way, a dizzy ascent

Of stony Cornish stiles across our path.

Day 2

Dirt stairs pinned to the eroding cliffs

Walking on the edge of precipices

The destructive foaming sea below

They paved Lands End once paradise.

Day 3

Gentle paths lined with wild flowers

Pink campions and yellow buttercups

The woodland shores of the Penrose estate

Where we found weathered flint pebbles.

Day 4

Through the Garden in tropical rainforests

We sweated our way between hardwood trees

Cool Ice creams in the Mediterranean

Driving rain and Arctic weather homeward bound.

Day 5

At Mawnan with its smith and church

Down to a rocky beach and ships at sea

Through wooded coasts to Durban's cove

Trebah's water gardens and sacred trees.

Day 6

Suffering with gout I sat out the day

Drawing sketches which won a little prize

The evening we spent in a pub in town

And the night time dancing reels and jigs.

The Serpent's Well

Haslemere to Petersfield
4 May 2024
36km; 22m
7-2 people

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From an ancient well under an arch
Slithered seven serpentine strollers
Under cover of primeval forests
Followed their  labyrinthine trails.

At a tavern in the grassy downlands
Under the refreshing April sunlight
Feasted on bread and pea green soup
One walker left the group post prandially

One followed the seafarer's way to Liss
Three got a lift almost at the finish line
Two crossed Petersfield's wheat fields
To the sleepy station in that dormant town.

The uncertain English light

Tring to Leighton Buzzard
12 April 2014
27.3 km; 17m
21 people
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We stepped out in that uncertain English light
Through ancient woods and fields of yellow rape
The dry and chalky soil beneath our dusty feet
Past pretty Aldbury and the Bridgewater estate.

Under the gaze of the white lion of Whipsnade
We gradually rose to the beacon of Ivinghoe
On verdant country lanes we wandered joyfully
To our lunch of burgers, beer and onion soup.

Like a string of beads along a glittering rosary
Walking the canal in little groups of one or two
The fastest first, the slower ones at the rear
Until to Leighton Buzzard's busy streets we came.

The Blossom Time

The Blossom Time

Wendover to Great Missenden

9 March 2041

2 people

Blackheath Ramblers

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We walked the Chiltern hills that sunny day

Cross rolling fields and pleasant country lanes

Horses grazed and Sunday couples strolled

Woodland thickets sweetly scented in the sun.

Lunched in some old haunted hostelry

Where the spirit of a black clad rider lurks

Crossed green fields of budding wheat

Beech woodlands crossed with rays of sun.

Golden earth shimmered beneath our steps

Drying out after many days of wintry rain

Groups of rainbow coloured people picnicked 

We felt the joy of spring in all our bones.

East Croydon to Woldingham, 15 February 2014

Varieties of rain and mud
East Croydon to Woldinham
15 February 2014
8/9 people
LDWA

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East Croydon's suburbs glistened
Under a steady damp drizzling rain
We slipped and slid up the viscous
Muddy slopes of Croham Hurst.

The sun shone in gloomy forests
Stinking paths of rotten leafy mud
Then dry and sandy yielding clay
And up a steep flight of rustic stairs.

We watched the grey rain pour down
From a boozy warm pub's windows
Set out in torrential driving rain
Across wheat fields of liquid mud.

Hail pelted us with volleys of needles
At Chaldon Church we prayed for sun
Our wish was granted and we dried
On the North Downs Way to Woldingham.