Dryads

Tilehurst to Twyford.
Date 13-Feb-16
Actual Distance km 29.20
Actual Distance miles 18.15
Percent Variance from planned 2.82%
People 16
Hours 6.00

View map

Lissom tree spirits entwined their lithe bodies
While they performed their naked winter dances
In forests with tall trees bereft of leaves
And naiads in the valleys wet their muddy beds.

Lunch at the Reformation in Gallowstree Common
Where we discussed the reign of Henry the Eighth
Eating soup and sandwiches under leadened skies
While steam evaporated from our dampened clothes.

Bare fields had turned to a quaggy slippy morass
And our feet sank ankle deep into the liquid mud
Different kinds of drizzle pattered on our heads
As we walked towards the tattoo parlours of Twyford.

Suburban Rivulets

Cheam to Earlsfield

Date 10-Jan-16

Actual Distance km 25.80

Actual Distance miles 16.00

People 11

Hours 5.53

View map

Nonsuch park and its manicured lawns

Playful dogs running up to greet our group

Four old concrete posts we passed

All that's left of King Henry's Palace.

A small jail house beside a pub in Ewell

Once used to can the pixilated locals

The muddy banks of the Hogsmill river

Down to a feast at the old watchman's house.

The babbling bubbles of the Beverley Brook

Caesar's dubious old Iron Age fort upon a hill 

Wimbledon's windmill now bereft of sails

The Gherkin seen from the park club house.

Slobland

West Ruislip to Elstree and Borehamwod
8 November 2015
4 people
30 km; 19 miles

View map

The quagmire of North East London

After days of wintry streaming rain

Under leaden skies in uncertain light

Some hardy golfers playing their game.

Riverine paths which cleaned our boots

Followed by uncertain squelchy fields

Slippery underfoot like soupy broth 

Paludal plains of muddy sticky clay.

Pressing banknotes dry in a serviette

Tea without milk in a Polish pub

Blue skies and luminous ruddy trees

A golden sunset at the end of the day.

Stiles

Knockholt to Hayes
Date 25-Oct-15
Actual Distance km 27.70
Actual Distance miles 27.70
People 10
Hours 6.12

View Map

Russet and gold under cool sun light

Knockholt with all its glorious names

The station, pound and charming village

Rolling grassland with not a road in sight.

A flight of stiles too numerous to count

Each with double steps too high for ease

Gatherings of fairy toadstools in the grass

A crowded picnic lunch on a church step.

The High Elms country park in Autumn finery

Textured sunlight across the woodland floor

Steely reflections across the Keston Ponds

A forest walk in waning sun to Hayes. 

A Golden Sunset

Wimbledon Park and Wimbledon Common
Date 14-Oct-15
Distance miles 6.22
People 8
Hours 2.00

We strolled towards a rainbow sunset
Red blue and gold above the roofs
City lights now obscured by trees
Sleepy swans backlit by golden sun.

Wimbledon Common revealed its charm
In the dark of a moonless night
A sail less windmill to our left
Mysterious roving lights close by.

A nervous walker with his hound
An empty golf club with lights ablaze
Mansions of the village passed by
Convivial drinks at walk's end.

Epicureans Part 3

Brief Description Hassocks to Lewes
Date 26-Sep-15
Actual Distance km 23.97
Actual Distance miles 14.90
People 7
Hours walking 4.47

View Map

Oh what a bucolic day we spent

In the gently rolling South Downs

Breathing in the pure country air

Marveling at the beauty all around!

We feasted on fresh fish and ale

We talked about life in Madrid

Pescatorial matters and other things

In Plumpton Green at the Half Moon Pub.

Replete, we slowly made our way 

A kestrel hovered above a ridge

Perfectly still in an updraught

And para-gliders bobbed in the winds.

The Old Church

Brief Description: Petersfield to Rowlands Castle
Date: 22-Aug-15
Actual Distance km: 30.10
Actual Distance miles;  18.71
People: 6
Hours: 6:20

View map

Mushrooms grew in the grass of the fields
And blackberries ripe for the picking
Quaint country paths of Victorian times
A torrid walk up Butser Hill's chalk slopes.

That old early Norman church in the village
Fields laid out in colourful patchwork
Cooling Easterly breezes under the trees
Earthy fields where wheat had been harvested.

Old Idsworth church in the middle of a plain
Its ancient wall paintings, once whitewashed.
Gathering clouds a portent of autumnal rains
A friendly beer festival at walk's end.