Walking

We’ve walked a lot this year, don’t know why, it’s not a new thing for us, but since Christmas we’ve quite often found ourselves out and about in all weathers and all times of day. Maybe it’s because this area is still quite new to us. Maybe it’s because with the pubs and shops back open you’re not having to queue to get on to the Downs. For me though I think it’s the different pace, you see a lot on the bike that you wouldn’t in a car and equally you see a lot on foot you wouldn’t see on the bike. I’ve never noticed the old brick used to surface the SDW that was dug out the ground not 500 yards from where I grew up because I was too busy trying not to rip my sidewalls open on chunks of flint the size of my fist.

Southwater brick works was long closed when I grew up there, but I used to live right on the edge of the country park it later became

After the disappointment of the Bluebells this year, it’s been a pleasant surprise just how much other colourful stuff has appeared. I’m no botanist and can only put a name to some of what I’ve seen but there are some spectacular things to be found tramping between the river valleys and the tops of the Downs. The gentle touch with the mower that East Sussex County Council seem to be displaying is also very welcome.