South Downs Way

Falmer → Pyecombe

Distance: 8.31 miles
Ascent: 226 metres
Duration: 2 hours 57 minutes

Spoonerism Hill
« Not walked | Not walked »

One final walk on the Downs for the week, and the weather has changed sufficiently to allow the first ice-cream of the year when we reached the top of Ditchling Beacon. The views to the north across towards the Weald are always stunning from the top of the escarpment, especially after the long gentle ascent from the south.

As we walked we passed dozens of newborn lambs, and a few young calves. Spring is certainly on its way.

South Downs Way

Alfriston → Southease

Distance: 6.69 miles
Ascent: 219 metres
Duration: 2 hours 19 minutes

Through the clouds
« Not walked | Not walked »

In a little over a week's time the South Downs will become Britain's latest National Park so this ought to be a great time to be walking the Way. Unfortunately the weather knows nothing of such timeliness. The forecast for the rest of the week is rain so we took the opportunity to head up the hill again today even if it meant spending the day in clouds.

Our goal had been to walk as far as Falmer where the Way crosses the A27 but by the time we reached Southease railway station we'd had enough of the cold

South Downs Way

Eastbourne → Alfriston

Distance: 10.6 miles
Ascent: 581 metres
Duration: 4 hours 1 minute

Seven Sisters
« Cuckmere Haven | Not walked »

Almost exactly two years ago Emma and I planned to walk the South Downs Way in a week. We failed miserably. It was the week of a huge storm and staying upright and dry simply wasn't possible. We tried getting out twice, but each time only managed a mile or two before giving up.

So I was a little nervous when on Friday we thought we'd try something similar. We won't complete the entire trail this week, but we'll hopefully make a good start.

The highlight of the walk was the first two thirds: up and over Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, arguably the most dramatic chalk cliffs in England. And there's the second reason to be nervous: walking that stretch on my coastwalk featured a near miss with lightning.

Today turned out to be windy in places but we stayed on our feet. Bolts from the sky were absent. It felt as though we had the countryside to ourselves. And even though we mis-counted the Sisters (there seemed to be eight; on the previous occasion I only counted six) the rolling landscape wasn't too arduous.

Tech

Sightseeing

This week I have mostly been distracted by Google StreetView. It's the perfect tool for checking back on places I once drifted thorough.

For example, was Glen Arkaig really as beautiful as I remembered? And how about the Cwm Ystwyth road across the Cambrian Mountains where Grandad's line "hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory" really took hold? What about Jaywick? Was it just a dream that somewhere like that exists on the Essex coast?

Thankfully Google have not been able to capture some of the places that I love the most: Sunderland Point in Lancashire (accessible only by tidal road), Cwm Einion (the "Artists' Valley") in Ceredigion and the Island of Iona. These will still require a personal visit.

Maybe StreetView will also bring about the end of the frequent disappearance of the Ham Sandwich sign, or failing that it will at least confirm beyond doubt its existence.

Album , Greenbelt

Over the Rhine: Live From Nowhere, Volume 4

I left home in 1990. I ended up at college in London and on a Saturday I'd walk from my halls in South Ken to Piccadilly Circus. Tucked in between the Trocadero and the Swiss Centre is a small alley which housed a quirky record shop called Dual Edge. In many ways the place was "Greenbelt in a shop".

Of all the bands I first came across there, the one that stuck most was Over the Rhine. I must have picked up their debut album in early 1991. It was the quietest record I owned, but rammed full of passion. I played it non-stop, but my friends just didn't understand.

Fast forward to the summer. The band were the most exciting booking on the Greenbelt line-up that year and when in Pip and Martin's show Karin closed her eyes and sang the haunting Cast Me Away I was transported.

But that was the closest Over the Rhine ever got to reproducing their album. I dragged friends along to the Mainstage show with promises of something beautiful and quiet; what they got was something more grungy and loud.

Now finally a recording of one of those astonishing concerts has been made available, albeit one recreated ten years later. Live From Nowhere is Over the Rhine's series of annual live recordings and 2009's offering was a complete gig from the previous December when all four original band members got together to celebrate ten years of the band.

Memories of following the band in those student days come flooding back: a Mainstage set during a rainy sunset at Greenbelt and walking back home after a candle-lit showcase gig at The Borderline and being absolute highlights.

Angels

The original Angel Lane

Yesterday Google activated their StreetView feature for most UK streets.

So for those who never visited, here's the original Angel Lane, allegedly one of the oldest recorded roads in Suffolk. Our house was the first timber one on the left.

I'm still determined that moving away was right, but I'll always look back at this street with fond memories.