14:33:31
I waited in until two new pairs of socks I'd ordered were delivered.15:21:54
Passing through Blackfriars on the way to Hassocks.15:22:48
15:24:22
16:28:48
First sight of the South Downs from the train - I got a tiny bit teary at this point.16:35:01
Near Hassocks station.16:41:40
The path which leads alongside the railway tracks, heading to the downs from Hassocks station.16:45:49
I took a slightly different route to get to the downs today, diverting off the path which runs alongside the railway.
16:48:27
Rabbits.16:48:32
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After emerging from the little bit of woodland, glorious views of the downs once again.16:49:57
Sheep.16:50:38
Was very envious of the location of that house.16:51:12
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16:56:07
At the far end of the previous field, I crossed over a road, and joined this pleasingly shady bridleway.
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17:03:01
...then a short stretch of country lane...17:03:56
...and now the hard work begins!17:08:26
Just a few minutes up the hill, and already wonderful views, exhausting though the climb was.
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Nearing the top now.17:11:49
The Clayton Windmills - Jack and Jill.
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Very happy to be rejoining the South Downs Way once again.17:18:19
Lovely skies this afternoon / evening.17:22:59
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First time to see the sea in months!17:28:39
Loved the silvery sky above the chalky track here.17:29:57
I was looking a little grizzled after the climb - not a very flattering photo but I felt it important to record the moment.
17:32:21
More South Downs Way signposts, which always seem to fill me with joy.17:34:42
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Heading towards Ditchling Beacon.17:40:14
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A pond near Ditchling Beacon.
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Chalk House vineyard down below.17:54:10
Zoomed in on Chalk House vineyard.17:55:55
The grass.17:56:03
18:01:11
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More vineyards - Black Dog Hill (including their new vineyard in the foreground) and the replanted Plumpton College vineyard a little further back.18:16:41
18:20:43
Nice light here.18:20:46
18:22:31
The Ditchling Beacon trig point. This was as far along as I was going to go today, and I decided to find a spot somewhere around here to sit and have dinner.18:22:41
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18:23:36
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Overlooking the vineyards again.18:28:27
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I decided this would be a good spot to sit.
18:40:56
...and have some Sussex wine (albeit not one of the vineyards in view).18:42:54
Successful cork extraction with my Leatherman tool.19:02:03
So this is where I sat, for two hours or so, enjoying the views, the sunset, and my wine.19:06:14
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Black Dog Hill.19:18:35
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The light over towards the horizon starting to turn from silvery to a pale gold now.19:30:18
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I took quite a lot of photos as you can see.19:36:21
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I finally decided it was time to cook dinner - using my little campstove, with a foil container beneath it to be doubly sure I didn't scorch any grass. That lighter you can see there wasn't mine - but I picked it up and took it away with me when I left regardless.19:41:56
19:53:40
My simple billy can pasta for dinner. Doesn't looks very exciting but eaten in this spot it was wonderful.19:54:55
Meanwhile, progress toward the sunset.
19:59:20
Obviously there was quite a lot of cloud by this point, so it was never going to be an immaculate sunset, but it was lovely to sit and watch the sky changing nonetheless.20:04:26
My titanium spork.20:05:33
20:05:50
The spork again.
20:08:25
Golden rays now.20:10:31
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My walking boots and the view.20:18:19
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Nice streaks of pink sky.
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I decided at this point to make a move, and start heading back to Hassocks.20:52:18
Fortunately this meant heading west at least to begin with, so I could continue to watch the tail end of the sunset on my way.20:53:05
21:01:33
A wooded bit on the way down, part of Ditchling Beacon Nature Reserve.
21:04:40
Down at the bottom now, looking back up to the downs.21:09:47
The last little pink glow from the sun.21:12:47
The pleasant country lanes which led me back to Hassocks.21:15:52
...and a couple of final glances back to the downs.
21:17:59
There loojed like some kind of light up on the hill there.21:18:55
Me looking very jolly about my pleasant evening on top of the downs.