09:31:42
My train ticket to the South Downs. First time to go since August!09:51:00
The view from Blackfriars station where I changed trains.11:00:01
The first glimpse of the downs as the train neared Hassocks. Always a bit emotional after a prolonged absence.11:02:00
Hassocks.
11:03:37
The familiar sign pointing to the South Downs.11:05:35
Some poetry pinned to a tree.11:09:21
The path which runs alongside the railway tracks from Hassocks to Clayton.11:13:15
For a change I turned off the railway path before Clayton, and followed this path towards Wolstonbury Hill instead.
11:13:37
The view of the railway tracks, with the tunnel at Clayton visible in the distance.11:14:52
I passed this slightly unusual site, and it took me a minute to figure out what it was. It's a natural burial ground.11:19:28
Blossom along the way.11:19:35
Wolstonbury Hill in the distance there.
11:20:14
Tried to take a picture of this bird but was a bit blurry.11:20:18
A bit better.11:22:12
Cuckoo flower?11:22:54
Bluebells.
11:23:25
More bluebells.11:25:11
Another glimpse of the downs.11:25:21
Can see the Jack and Jill windmills here.11:25:27
Zoomed in a bit more on Jack and Jill.
11:28:16
Sweet violet?11:29:22
Pleasant little country lane.11:31:20
...I then turned up this blossom lined track.11:31:46
Close up on aforementioned blossom.
11:33:30
Let's keep Wolstonbury Hill special.11:34:30
Wild garlic.11:36:28
The steep bit of the climb up Wolstonbury Hill.11:39:36
11:42:05
Gradually gaining height...11:44:06
...a bit higher still...11:46:09
...and still...11:46:21
...and here's a picture of me looking rather warm and scruffy as a result of the climb.
11:47:44
The trig point atop Wolstonbury Hill.11:48:14
Some sort of earthworks / tumuli here.11:49:13
The views from the top of Wolstonbury Hil, including the vineyard whose wine bears the same name.11:49:17
11:49:22
More views.11:49:25
11:53:23
I sat for a while to have a snack and enjoy the view.11:54:17
Not sure why my water bottle is in shot here.
11:56:40
Although it had been quite warm as a result of the climb, the wind on the top made it feel chilly again, so I was glad of my jacket.11:57:53
More cuckoo flower?11:58:25
More views.11:58:40
Looking across to the Jack and Jill windmills on the next hill.
11:59:46
11:59:53
The trig point again.12:00:12
12:01:24
Could just about see the sea from here.
12:02:46
12:02:51
12:03:55
Heading over towards Jack and Jill now.12:05:09
12:07:44
Somebody was flying a remote control model plane here - not sure if you can spot it.12:07:45
...and again here. It's on the horizon about a third of the way along from the left hand side.12:09:29
The track leading to Jack and Jill.12:12:11
12:12:42
Lambs.12:13:13
12:13:34
12:13:45
12:14:21
Cowslips.12:15:39
Getting closer to Jack and Jill.12:19:58
Unfortunately I had to dip down between the two hills.12:31:58
...and also had to cross a rather busy A road.
12:34:17
This is the appropriately named Mill Lane.12:34:19
12:39:08
Don't know whether this is Jack or Jill, but anyway, one of the windmills.12:40:52
The views from Jack and Jill.
12:40:55
12:40:59
12:42:04
The view back up to Jack and Jill as I started to walk down the hill.12:43:19
Heading down into Clayton.
12:44:20
12:51:00
The church at Clayton.13:12:10
Pint of Harvey's outside the Jack and Jill pub.13:12:16
Can see the Jack and Jill windmills from here.
13:13:01
13:31:13
I was sat in this pleasantly shady spot underneath this tree in blossom.13:39:54
My lunch.13:56:29
The rest of the beer garden at the Jack and Jill.
14:14:13
The curiously fortified railway tunnel entrance at Clayton on my way back to Hassocks.14:18:06
Last views of the downs on the way back to Hassocks station.14:22:28
The path alongside the railway tracks once again.16:10:07
Back in Kentish Town now.
18:03:20
Decided to have a barbecue in the evening, here are the girls having burgers.18:35:47
Erika spearing a marshmallow.18:38:34
To make use of the residual heat we decided to have a go at roasting coffee beans again.18:43:03
I found a place to hang up my sabre.
18:54:36
More coffee bean roasting.19:03:14
Erika sitting on the "shed".19:04:50
Erika standing on it.19:34:10
Still getting a decent amount of heat out the coals, note also the potatoes baking.
19:36:26
Erika blowing bubbles.19:36:44
19:56:52
Raked the coals up a bit more in an attempt to get the billy to boil.20:06:15