Nuthurst Drives Us Nuts!

Monday 20th October and J and I set out for a 4 mile walk starting in the village of Nuthurst. We are using J's book which is a recent edition of Mike Powers' book. We have had trouble with this book's instructions before which led us to encounters with electric fences and a farmer's wife with a shotgun (it was a walking stick really but I was convinced it was a rifle as she approached).

The walk starts OK and we pass through some pleasant autumnal woods. Pi is off the lead and she promptly goes off to chase something (probably a deer). We hear her baying in the distance. I use my whistle to good effect and we shortly see her about 200 yards away in the trees. She continues on her own route rather than coming straight back to us. It seems that she's returning by following the same route she took on the outward journey and it's not too long before she comes hurtling back to us from behind. 

All dogs safely back on the lead we continue. At the last half paragraph of directions we are walking through Sedgewick Park looking for a track to the left. No track. We try a footpath and then retrace our steps as it leads nowhere. We continue, passing Doomsday Lane (it's not looking too good for us at this point!) and as we are certainly lost ask at a garden centre for help. Two lovely gardeners point us down Magpie Lane telling us to take the footpath on the left at the bend. We do this and end up at the same set of pylons that we turned back at before!

Back to Magpie Lane where a very smiley farmer puts us right. After a mile further we find the correct path and it is then a straight walk to the pub. Phew.

We've probably walked about 8 miles and poor J has to work tonight.

We will be holding a ceremonial burning of all Mike Powers' books on November 5th.

Amberley Oct 13th

Well another new walk. 5.5 miles of riverside paths,downland tracks and lanes. Weather dry and muggy with mist on the hills. The walk started at the Bridge Inn pub. Unfortunately it started with a bridge over the Arun which meant J had to carry Bob over. He really dislikes bridges. This was closely followed by the sight of a dead swan on the riverbank. The first stile brought disaster as my trousers ripped at the bum seam. Luckily I had my hoodie to tie round my waist to protect my modesty. The trousers had served me well as I had had them for over 13 years but I was saddened at their demise. As the walk progressed they ripped more and more. Nice ventilation!! The instructions were very clear and the walk was relatively stress free. The dogs rooted out a few pheasants but didn't catch anything. No sheep, cows, goats or horses. Phew! Beautiful scenery and not too many steep hills. I trod on Pi's foot during the final 1/4 mile and she gave me a look of absolute disgust and promptly thrust her tail between her legs. It slowly rose again back to its normal height before we reached the pub. Arrived back at the Inn before it opened and waited outside, our tummies rumbling.

Bob then refused to go inside the pub and needed quite a bit of persuading and even Ted was unhappy at being inside during lunch taking every opportunity to have a growl.We took our coffees in the garden. 

A very enjoyable walk. One to do again. 

Off to shop for new trousers.

Saddlescombe - A walk from hell!

J and I set off on one of our well trodden routes. Beautiful autumn weather. Short sleeves in October!

Sheep in the first part of the field and cows visible over the stile. Felt smug as all dogs were on leads. (Stress 0)

Past the quarry and thought we'd seen all the cattle when some more suddenly appeared on the path ahead. (Stress 4). We cut up-hill to avoid them and had a trouble free stroll to the fence. We could see more cows near the far pond (Stress 7) so decided to head for the lower path and walk round the valley to the far descent. Just about to pass through the fence when two stray cows ambushed us (Stress 25). How many cows does one farm need?? Ted decided to ignore us and follow his own agenda (Stress 37). As we waited for him to get bored of rabbit sniffing J noticed some deer in the field below us (Stress 51). These were soon joined by several more (Stress 69). Prayed to be air-lifted out. Luckily it was a still day and their scent didn't carry to the dogs. 

Ted eventually gave up on the rabbits and we progressed round the valley with all 3 dogs on the lead. Approaching the farm some geese popped out of the hedge (Stress 84).

Got back to safety. Heart rates normalized. Avoided the Valium this time.

7th October - The Long Man Walk

A fine morning saw H, J and I set off with the 4 dogs on a 6.25/3 hr walk based at Wilmington, home of the Long Man. The weather forecast was not good but we were well prepared with waterproofs. H wore her mint green cashmere jumper to raise the tone but sadly no jewelry for the pub!! The car park had public loos which was a big plus for us and we of course took advantage.

The instructions started well and we found the path that lead up to the foot of the carving. It's very impressive close up. Quick stop for photos. Ted soon caught a rabbit (we heard the squeaks) but Bob quickly muscled in with big brother rights and snatched it off him. Pi followed Bob for a while till I got her on the lead. Bob munched contentedly for a while and then left the rest of the bunny and joined us. 

A beautiful walk ensued which took in part of the South Downs Way. 

We cut the visit to Lullington Church out and headed towards Lullington Heath Nature Reserve. We met a rather fine country gent on his mount. Luckily all the dogs came back on demand - must be our lucky day.

The dogs were pleased to find a dew pond and we were pleased to see the ponies and sheep and goats in the distance and behind fences. The sheep did bear a large similarity to those on Postman Pat. 

The walk was progressing well until the weather changed and we were hit by a blustery squall. Passing around the edge of Tenantry Ground we saw a hunt in the valley. Pi did prick up her ears but wasn't tempted to join in.

Ended the walk by passing over the head of the Long Man and then retracing our steps back to the car park and another loo stop for me.

Lunch in the delightful Giant's Rest pub accompanied by a game or two of dominoes. 

A fine outing.

Friston Forest

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29th

Pi and Molly set out on a new walk taken from my recently purchased book. It is 41/2 miles starting and ending at the Seven Sisters Country Park. The weather is mild, dry and sunny. The walk starts well despite the fact that we are meant to be able to see 2 wooden sculptures shortly after exiting the car park. Needless to say we do not see them. The dogs are in fine fettle with their noses to the ground, enjoying the autumnal smells of rotting leaves and fetid rabbit corpses (more of which later).

Aiming for Litlington and an enchanting looking tea room but take wrong turn. Luckily we meet some locals who kindly point us in the right direction. Pi, however refuses to pass the couple, so we end up waiting for them to pass us before we can continue. Strange dog.

Find tea room, which looks delightful. What's a walk without a cream tea??!!

It's closed on Mondays!!??

Use the loos (well we've both had children and you know what that does for the bladder) and continue - past a white horse carved into the hillside. Apparently it was made by a local farmer in the 19th Century - no TV, no internet, no wii - what else are you supposed to do of an evening?

Walk returns along the bank of the river Cuckmere. The book clearly says "Do not cross the bridge". On the advice of a blackberrying couple we cross the bridge. No trolls - phew. Lots of cattle on the path. Dogs go on leads. H is terrified of cows. Most of them move away but one remains, stubbornly on the path. It is staring at H. Did I say that H is petrified of cows. I give her Pi to hold whilst I do my cow whisperer act. The cow lowers its head and still refuses to move. I windmill my arms and try to look authoritative. The cow moooooves. As we pass H points out the bull. We walk a little quicker.

The beagle takes a dip in the river. The current is swift and even though she's doggie paddling strongly she makes no progress. She paddles quicker.  I'm about to climb down to haul her out when she scrabbles amongst the reeds and rejoins us. Later she paddles in a puddle and emerges with her legs coated in black mud. It stinks. Hope this dries off before we reach the car. H is glad it's my car.

The path narrows and we are relieved it's not high tide. Molly, who usually stays glued to H's legs has stopped some yards back. We retrace our steps to find her nibbling on a dead bunny. Thank goodness Bob wasn't with us. He tends to swallow them whole then spends the next 10 minutes crunching on the bones with fur dangling from his jaws.

Pi has been surprisingly well behaved today and we celebrate with sandwiches at the Golden Galleon pub.

Molly has tummy ache.

You should know that we are three forty something women with a motley assortment of dogs:

• Pi - Beagle
• Bob - Collie/Lab cross
• Molly - Border Terrier
• Ted - Jack Russell/Chihuahua cross

They are all family pets and all semi-trained. It is this fact which leads to so many of our outings ending up as a complete fiasco.

Some of our walks are along familiar and regular routes and some are virgin turf. It doesn't seem to matter to the dogs whether they've walked a route a hundred times before or never in their lives - they always find ways to entertain or embarrass us, make us worry or despair. 

Autumn is in. Days are getting shorter. Dogs still need walking.