Butterflies

Knockholt to Slade Green
Date 13-Jun-15
Actual Distance km 28.40
Actual Distance miles 18.00
People 14
Hours 6.20

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A lonely horse gambolled up to us
Enjoying our company at a stile
A farmer took a break from her work
To show us the overgrown path we'd missed.

We crossed the rolling verdant land
To a large country inn on a green
The babbling river flowing happily by
In the rolling grassy Kentish downlands.

We strolled on to Crayford's marshes
Wild flowers yellow and purple at our feet
Flittering butterflies around us red and black
An old moated castle slowly sinking away.

The old abbey

Chorleywood to Great Missenden
22 March 2015
6 people
28km, 18 miles

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The sun tried to peek at us through clouds

As we had a hit or miss behind a pile of logs

And walked through woods still bare of leaves

In Spring with new crops in the fields.

Objects guessed afar on the horizon

Water tower, windmill, a stately home

People drinking their lunchtime pints 

Laughing and talking on a village green.

An old church hidden in the woodland sun

Fast post prandial walking accross the fields 

Remains of an abbey reflected in a pond

A twist in the tail and the last train home.

The Hope

Merstham to Putney

24 January 2015
19 people
21 miles
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We walked on muddy footpaths

our steps crunching splashily

through thin sheets of ice

which covered every muddy puddle.

Cold sun crossed Alderstead Heath

with long grey woodland shadows

Chaldon church stood timelessly

among the trees in its old churchyard.

We feasted on ales and stews

in Carshalton's community pub

then along the babbling Wandle

to Putney's riverside elegance.

The ostrich

Great Missenden to Amersham

7 March 2015

27 km (17 miles)

19 people

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Winter wheat harvested

Fields ready for the plough

Sun still low in the sky

Winter coats all packed away.

A puddingstone at Cholesbury

Carried here in ancient times 

Pub lunches longingly desired

An old windmill in the sun.

Grassy valleys by some woods

Lonely ostriches in a field

An old arboraceous graveyard

A tree lined walk to town.

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.