Sussex Scrapbook
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Wildlife walks throughout the year
Saturday 16th October 2010
Arundel (for boots) - Amberley.
6.5 miles
Today's walk was completely ruined by the weather!
We'd shot down to
Peglers in
Arundel to buy me some very badly-needed new boots. Stage 1 of this most
important mission, the purchase, was accomplished reasonably quickly and very
satisfactorily. Stage 2 was to be an immediate acid test for their suitability
in typical English weather by splashing through all manner of; muck, mud and
water. We were distinctly promised loads of rain and wind by
Her Majesty's Meteorological Office, but quite frankly they let us down
very, very badly. True, the majority of the day we were walled in by spectacular
dark clouds pierced with alternating rainbows and sunbursts. Lacy curtains of
rain were constantly falling a mile from us on three sides, but the very ground
we walked on remained almost bone dry with clouds parting in front of us like
the Red Sea for Moses. Waterproofs, coats and gaiters had to stay cooped up in
bags all day long, while we were forced to put up with clear blue sky and warm
sunshine. At one point I even came close to sweating and Gill had to take her
hat off!? A complete nightmare.
When nightfall.. er.. fell, the crystal clear heavens rubbed our noses in it
even further by giving us perfect views from Rackham Hill of Jupiter and every
constellation you could indignantly wave a stick at. By the time we got to the
Bridge Inn we were ridiculously clean and dry and were in no need whatsoever
of the unwanted firewater that we begrudgingly threw down our necks.
What can we say, some days all your luck just seems to run out at the same time.
The Swallow Window in St. Nicholas's in Arundel.
The swallow is the town symbol and many people believe that's because the name
originates from the French word for swallow - Hirondelle.
♫ These boots were made for sploshing,
and that's just what they'll do ♫.... given the chance!
Burpham church, where we were able to shelter from the clement weather.
Yeah that's right: we leave and the rain starts. Thanks very much!
A feint rainbow which we saw a buzzard fly through.
Tea leaves