Autumn is with us!
Our second walk began just outside Lenham, near Ashford, Kent. The North Downs way takes in some of the Old Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury.. . Stephen left me where the Pilgrim's Way joins the Faversham Road which was, thankfully, an easy start with flat walking. The path was in the lee of the limestone ridge of the North downs, fairly high up but sheltered. The views across Kent were magnificent and the autumnal colours were just beginning to unfold. There was a feeling of exuberant bounty as abundant Old Man;'s beard climbed over pendulous swathes of elberrries; their branches drooping with the weight of the rich, black fruit. Underfoot, beech mast crunched and the path was stained with purple spots from the elderberries. At regular points along the way, there was a louder crunch as a squrrel's discarded hazlenut was crushed underfoot. Sometimes I found a whole ripe hazelnut ready to be eaten , cracked open with the teeth and yielding up a delicious crisp sweetness. Abundant blackberries were there for roadside snacks, too. Over all this autumn harvest there lay a still, waiting silence as if all creation was in anticipation of the coming cold winter.
As the path entered onto the edge of farmer's fields it was delightful to see small margins of wild flowers along their edges. These flowers were the last gasp of their plant's production whose energy was nearly spent. Tiny, fragile poppies bent by the wind were edged with abundant speedwell and scarlet pimpernel. There were none of the vast vistas of blood red that we had seen in July on the first walk, yet these little poppies were still welcome and much admired.
The path turned into tree lined walkways where the mossy banks began to yield up the first indications of autumn fungii. I hoped to find some Ceps when we reached more extensive woodland
Stephen met me and we walked on the pilgrims way near Charing where houses indicated the ancient and modern routes with names like Pilgrim cottage and Runcie House!
Eventually, we arrived at the first day's destination and were glad to see the car waiting for us. It was a great relief to take off walking gear and to arrive at our first B and B in a nearby pub. WE had a good hour's sound sleep befopre we changed and went to a nearby pub The Oak, in Charing for a really delicious meal. I had steak and kidney pudding, cabbage and mash- just the right kind of food after a tiring day. We both slept soundly and woke refreshed for the next stage.
As the path entered onto the edge of farmer's fields it was delightful to see small margins of wild flowers along their edges. These flowers were the last gasp of their plant's production whose energy was nearly spent. Tiny, fragile poppies bent by the wind were edged with abundant speedwell and scarlet pimpernel. There were none of the vast vistas of blood red that we had seen in July on the first walk, yet these little poppies were still welcome and much admired.
The path turned into tree lined walkways where the mossy banks began to yield up the first indications of autumn fungii. I hoped to find some Ceps when we reached more extensive woodland
Stephen met me and we walked on the pilgrims way near Charing where houses indicated the ancient and modern routes with names like Pilgrim cottage and Runcie House!
Eventually, we arrived at the first day's destination and were glad to see the car waiting for us. It was a great relief to take off walking gear and to arrive at our first B and B in a nearby pub. WE had a good hour's sound sleep befopre we changed and went to a nearby pub The Oak, in Charing for a really delicious meal. I had steak and kidney pudding, cabbage and mash- just the right kind of food after a tiring day. We both slept soundly and woke refreshed for the next stage.
