Friday, 21 June 2013
Final post ...
We're closing the sponsorship page now and won't post any more to this blog. But with a number of additional donations the total is now £1300 (plus Gift Aid). Thankyou again to everyone.
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
I made it!
Well, I made it – 100 miles on foot from Winchester to Eastbourne! It was an amazing experience in all sorts of ways I hadn’t predicted.
To now look at a map of the south of England, and realise that I have covered a significant chunk of it on foot gives a whole new perspective to distance, and geography, and in some sense with connectedness to the earth.
To be, a lot of the time, walking up on the high ground, among the grazing sheep and cattle – and the singing of the larks – and the richness of colour in the greenness of full spring and the dainty abundance of the flowers, just put the busy-ness and bustle of normal life in a whole new perspective.
It was a joy to have the space and time to carry in my thoughts the life and being of Southover Counselling and those it serves.
My grateful thanks to Chris and Geoffrey for providing the Winchester "launch pad", Tony for providing the “thoughts for the day” and the daily logistics of getting me from/to my end/starting points, and those who joined me for sections of the walk!
And to all of you who have supported this venture by adding your own thoughts to mine, and your generous donations – which have so far raised over £1,100 (plus Gift Aid) to sponsor those unable to pay the full cost of the service.
To now look at a map of the south of England, and realise that I have covered a significant chunk of it on foot gives a whole new perspective to distance, and geography, and in some sense with connectedness to the earth.
To be, a lot of the time, walking up on the high ground, among the grazing sheep and cattle – and the singing of the larks – and the richness of colour in the greenness of full spring and the dainty abundance of the flowers, just put the busy-ness and bustle of normal life in a whole new perspective.
It was a joy to have the space and time to carry in my thoughts the life and being of Southover Counselling and those it serves.
My grateful thanks to Chris and Geoffrey for providing the Winchester "launch pad", Tony for providing the “thoughts for the day” and the daily logistics of getting me from/to my end/starting points, and those who joined me for sections of the walk!
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| Cocking - departing, 23rd |
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| The SDW's least helpful signpost |
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| Alfriston - arriving, 26th |
Monday, 27 May 2013
Triumphantly home
It's been a privilege to share today from Exceat to Eastbourne: the last ten miles or so of Stella's hundred. I'm even prouder and more amazed at the achievement! Today's walk started at Alfriston: Exceat is three miles or so downstream (literally: the stream is the Cuckmere river) and a good place to leave the car since it's easy to get back to, by bus, from Eastbourne.
We came down the last "down" to the end of the SDW at around 4 p.m. and absorbed a welcome and excellent mug of tea, before finding that we were exactly on time to pick up the hourly bus into the centre of Eastbourne and, then, another short wait to get back to Exceat. The only snag was an accident which closed the straight road home from Newhaven, so we had to backtrack and go the long way round.
A final meditation. Evening hymns from past ages tend to be sentimental but this one was always a favourite for being so in tune with reality.
Ere I sleep for every favour
This day show’d
By my God
I will bless my Saviour
Thou hast order’d all my goings
In Thy way,
Heard me pray,
Sanctified my doings.
Thou my rock, my guard, my tower,
Safely keep,
While I sleep,
Me, with all Thy power.
Leave me not, but ever love me;
Let Thy peace
Be my bliss
Till Thou hence remove me.
John Cennick, 1741
We came down the last "down" to the end of the SDW at around 4 p.m. and absorbed a welcome and excellent mug of tea, before finding that we were exactly on time to pick up the hourly bus into the centre of Eastbourne and, then, another short wait to get back to Exceat. The only snag was an accident which closed the straight road home from Newhaven, so we had to backtrack and go the long way round.
A final meditation. Evening hymns from past ages tend to be sentimental but this one was always a favourite for being so in tune with reality.
Ere I sleep for every favour
This day show’d
By my God
I will bless my Saviour
Thou hast order’d all my goings
In Thy way,
Heard me pray,
Sanctified my doings.
Thou my rock, my guard, my tower,
Safely keep,
While I sleep,
Me, with all Thy power.
Leave me not, but ever love me;
Let Thy peace
Be my bliss
Till Thou hence remove me.
John Cennick, 1741
Kyrie
Today is the last day of the walk, and not one of the longest: Alfriston to Eastbourne by way of Beachy Head, within sight of the sea most of the way. I'll be joining Stella for the last few miles from Birling Gap.
David Adam offers these Kyries
When our days are at their longest
When our life is at its strongest
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
At the turning of each tide
On life's ocean, deep and wide
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
At the ending of the way
At the closing of the day
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
(from Sixfold Kyries, Tides and Seasons)
Help us, Lord
To live in your light
To act in your might
To think in your wisdom
To walk in your kingdom
To abide in your love
Your presence to prove
David Adam offers these Kyries
When our days are at their longest
When our life is at its strongest
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
At the turning of each tide
On life's ocean, deep and wide
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
At the ending of the way
At the closing of the day
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
(from Sixfold Kyries, Tides and Seasons)
Help us, Lord
To live in your light
To act in your might
To think in your wisdom
To walk in your kingdom
To abide in your love
Your presence to prove
Sunday, 26 May 2013
And now I'm home again - resting up ahead of the final onslaught over the whole run of the Seven Sisters tomorrow! It has been the most amazing weather conditions today - walking over routes previously familiar, at least in parts - but with visibility such as i have never seen before! Without bias, of course, there is no doubt in my mind that the most beautiful part of the beautiful South Downs landscape is right here on our own doorstep! And so - a truly amazing journey (in many senses) draws towards its closing stage.........
A thought for Sunday
Starting from home today, down to Alfriston. This repeats last Sunday's thought, though I didn't realise it!
Photo: setting off from Kingston Ridge, to walk back up to the main route
A new day bids us wake
To clear and cloudy weather,
And for each other's sake
Restores us to each other:
Remembering God, we say:
This is his world, his day.
As all life needs the sun,
Which never ceases giving,
Even when day is gone
Its energy for living:
Forget God, though we may,
This is his world, his day.
So now, in solitude,
Or met in Christ together,
We praise our loving God
And pray for one another:
Believing, come what may
This is his world, his day.
Fred Pratt Green
Photo: setting off from Kingston Ridge, to walk back up to the main route
A morning hymn
A new day bids us wake
To clear and cloudy weather,
And for each other's sake
Restores us to each other:
Remembering God, we say:
This is his world, his day.
As all life needs the sun,
Which never ceases giving,
Even when day is gone
Its energy for living:
Forget God, though we may,
This is his world, his day.
So now, in solitude,
Or met in Christ together,
We praise our loving God
And pray for one another:
Believing, come what may
This is his world, his day.
Fred Pratt Green
Saturday, 25 May 2013
End of day - and I'm pretty exhausted, having, in the end, done about 20 miles today. But it was wonderful sharing the walk with son Chris and his wife Amy this morning. And they certainly brought the good weather - best conditions of the week, by quite some!
It was fun seeing so many familiar landmarks as I crossed from Jack & Jill over Ditchling Beacon. And then this evening, the sense of crossing the A27 and coming in 'home' - over the top and down the Juggs Way track that we have walked up from the other end so many, many times - with the thought "I just walked from Winchester to get here" - was really quite indescribable.
Indeed the only fitting way to express it, as Tony walked up from home to meet me, was to stop off at the Juggs and celebrate with a quiet drink and bite of supper!
The sun is shining most gloriously as I look out of my office window onto the downs before setting off today. There's something very exciting about the thought of walking in over that very stretch of the downs at the end of the day today and having 'come home'! Plus the added bonus and delight of doing the walk this morning with our son, Chris, and his wife Amy - who have travelled from St Neots to be able to join me on this significant part of the walk!
Sixth day: coming home
Today's destination is home: coming off the South Downs Way at Kingston Ridge.
Here is a verse from T S Eliot, which ends Little Gidding (the last of the Four Quartets)
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, unremembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning;
At the source of the longest river
The voice of the hidden waterfall
And the children in the apple-tree
Not known, because not looked for
But heard, half-heard, in the stillness
Between two waves of the sea.
Quick now, here, now, always—
A condition of complete simplicity
(Costing not less than everything)
And all shall be well and
All manner of thing shall be well
When the tongues of flame are in-folded
Into the crowned knot of fire
And the fire and the rose are one.
Here is a verse from T S Eliot, which ends Little Gidding (the last of the Four Quartets)
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, unremembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning;
At the source of the longest river
The voice of the hidden waterfall
And the children in the apple-tree
Not known, because not looked for
But heard, half-heard, in the stillness
Between two waves of the sea.
Quick now, here, now, always—
A condition of complete simplicity
(Costing not less than everything)
And all shall be well and
All manner of thing shall be well
When the tongues of flame are in-folded
Into the crowned knot of fire
And the fire and the rose are one.
Friday, 24 May 2013
Mixed fortunes ...
After the worst anticipation of today's weather, right now I'm walking in at least patches of warm bright sunshine - and making the most of it!
Today we expect rain ...
This is a childhood hymn suitable for today's anticipated weather!
Here in the country's heart,
where the grass is green,
life is the same sweet life
as it e'er has been.
Trust in a God still lives,
and the bell at morn
floats with a thought of God
o'er the rising corn.
God comes down in the rain
and the crops grow tall:
this is the country faith
and the best of all.
(Norman Gale, 1862–1942)
Here in the country's heart,
where the grass is green,
life is the same sweet life
as it e'er has been.
Trust in a God still lives,
and the bell at morn
floats with a thought of God
o'er the rising corn.
God comes down in the rain
and the crops grow tall:
this is the country faith
and the best of all.
(Norman Gale, 1862–1942)
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Day 5 - home again, half way through!
Despite the wintry squalls (several of them!), today has been a glorious day's walking - with the light and visibility the best so far (when it wasn't raining!). And some moments of true wonderment - as when the sun burst forth as I reached the top of Bignor Hill, lighting up a whole breath-taking panorama of coastline and sparkling sea. Views across to the Isle of Wight (just visible on the horizon), though by the time I got the camera out the sun had faded.
And here's the world's least helpful signpost:
but this road sign is worth a mention:
Almost my final run into West Sussex
Arrived home having dropped Stella at Cocking to resume walk. I've realised this is my penultimate excursion into West Sussex as transport. From Cocking it's been a relief to get off the A27 route with its slow patches round Arundel and Worthing: the route's been through Storrington and across country past Midhurst.
Tonight and tomorrow morning she'll travel from and to Amberley by train. Tomorrow night's break at Bramber is the last before reaching Kingston and turning east from home instead of west.
Here she is as setting off this morning with the new rucksack – a great improvement, not least for the waterproof cover it's got built in. We anticipate rain!
Tonight and tomorrow morning she'll travel from and to Amberley by train. Tomorrow night's break at Bramber is the last before reaching Kingston and turning east from home instead of west.
Here she is as setting off this morning with the new rucksack – a great improvement, not least for the waterproof cover it's got built in. We anticipate rain!
Awaken me, Lord
Awaken me, Lord,
To your light,
Open my eyes
To your presence.
Awaken me, Lord,
To your love,
Open my heart
To your indwelling.
Awaken me, Lord,
To your life,
Open my mind
To your inspiring.
Awaken me, Lord,
To your purpose,
Open my will
To your guiding.
Today's thought, by David Adam from Tides and Seasons
To your light,
Open my eyes
To your presence.
Awaken me, Lord,
To your love,
Open my heart
To your indwelling.
Awaken me, Lord,
To your life,
Open my mind
To your inspiring.
Awaken me, Lord,
To your purpose,
Open my will
To your guiding.
Today's thought, by David Adam from Tides and Seasons
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
At the end of Day Three
It's been a lovely day's walking today - some real sunshine, and some glorious views!
Here are bluebells, the best example of a Bronze Age barrow cemetery on the South Downs, and an Andy Goldsworthy Chalk Stone from the Chalk Stones Trail
Here are bluebells, the best example of a Bronze Age barrow cemetery on the South Downs, and an Andy Goldsworthy Chalk Stone from the Chalk Stones Trail
En route, we've discovered ...
Driving to and from, there are lots of places we might want to come back to
Hampshire villages, particularly Buriton
West Sussex: Midhurst, which provided a new and better rucksack and an excellent cup of tea
Cowdray Park, ruined Tudor mansion visible from Midhurst car park, reminiscent of Hampton Court
Petworth, National Trust, seen from the road
More to be added
Hampshire villages, particularly Buriton
West Sussex: Midhurst, which provided a new and better rucksack and an excellent cup of tea
Cowdray Park, ruined Tudor mansion visible from Midhurst car park, reminiscent of Hampton Court
Petworth, National Trust, seen from the road
More to be added
Day three: pics en route
These were received but not posted earlier
At around 11:34:
One of the first sights of the morning: a glorious row of copper beeches. Which, on the next page, also feature in the guide book! |
and at around 12:25:
Somewhere around here I will have crossed the "unmarked" boundary between Hampshire and West Sussex ... |
A couple more pics from yesterday
Day two and an early waymark: only 84 miles to go!
Journey's end: Halls Hill on the edge of Buriton. I walked out a couple of miles to meet Stella where the SDW crosses the A3. Stopping for a well deserved cup of tea did mean we hit the rush hour back along the south coast: but there were pretty villages, woods and bluebells first.
Journey's end: Halls Hill on the edge of Buriton. I walked out a couple of miles to meet Stella where the SDW crosses the A3. Stopping for a well deserved cup of tea did mean we hit the rush hour back along the south coast: but there were pretty villages, woods and bluebells first.
Day three: today's thought
Today's thought is a poem by John Clare (1793-1864), probably best known for The Shepherd's Calendar
Are life eternal: and in silence they
Speak happiness beyond the reach of books;
There's nothing mortal in them; their decay
Is the green life of change; to pass away
And come again in blooms revivified.
Its birth was heaven, eternal is its stay,
And with the sun and moon shall still abide
Beneath their day and night and heaven wide.
All nature has a feeling
All nature has a feeling: woods, fields, brooksAre life eternal: and in silence they
Speak happiness beyond the reach of books;
There's nothing mortal in them; their decay
Is the green life of change; to pass away
And come again in blooms revivified.
Its birth was heaven, eternal is its stay,
And with the sun and moon shall still abide
Beneath their day and night and heaven wide.
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Progress
Standing on top of Old Winchester Hill. Apparently should be able to see Isle of Wight and Chichester Harbour?!
Day two: on the route
Have duly made it back to Exton - only went the wrong way once :-)
Now back on SDW and it's beautiful!
Now back on SDW and it's beautiful!
Thankyou ...
A quick thankyou to all the friends who've added sponsorship in the last few days, especially from Lewes Pro Musica, at rehearsal last evening, Southover Church, and Christ Church Lewes.
The fund's still open: click the link at the right hand side to donate online!
Incidentally, despite what it has been saying at the foot of the postings, we're not blogging in the small hours of the morning. The timestamp is added by Google in Californa, eight hours different. I've now fixed it!
The fund's still open: click the link at the right hand side to donate online!
Incidentally, despite what it has been saying at the foot of the postings, we're not blogging in the small hours of the morning. The timestamp is added by Google in Californa, eight hours different. I've now fixed it!
Day Two
Awake and moving, at opposite ends of the SDW! Stella should be on her way before too long on the second leg, and this evening I'm going to collect her at journey's end to come back home overnight. This will be the pattern for the rest of the walk.
This morning's thought is from David Adam: a Celtic dedication of the day, from his book Tides and Seasons.
Pathways
Lord, today brings
Paths to discover
Possibilites to choose
People to encounter
Peace to possess
Promises to fulfil
Perplexities to ponder
Power to strengthen
Pointers to guide
Pardon to accept
Praises to sing
and a Presence to proclaim
Possibilites to choose
People to encounter
Peace to possess
Promises to fulfil
Perplexities to ponder
Power to strengthen
Pointers to guide
Pardon to accept
Praises to sing
Successful arrival, first day
Stage 1 complete: Winchester to Exton, with a small diversion at the end of the day for my overnight at Warnford (a couple of miles off the route).
Here are a few photos from the day
Here are a few photos from the day
Monday, 20 May 2013
Under way!
The traditional start point for the South Downs Way is by the statue of King Alfred, in Winchester Broadway. We spent a pleasant Sunday afternoon with our friends making the acquaintance of rh Hampshire Hog outside the county offices, and then walking round the ancient city, along the river (diverted and canalised in Roman times, flowing quite fast!).
This morning our friends came down to see Stella on her way around 9.30, across the river and into Chesil Street past the old Chesil Rectory (now a restaurant). King Alfred's statue isn't all that ancient: not nearly as old as some of the landmark buildings including the Chesil Rectory just round the corner. Then along, up the hill, and off the road onto the Downs proper.
We're working with the AtoZ strip map, but also a Rucksack Reader (http://www.rucsacs.com/) loaned by friends in Hove. Karin and Helmut run a well-respected Artists' Open House, this year including a retrospective for our mutual friend Cyril Mount who died in February. The Reader, as a descriptive guide to the route, is the perfect complement for the full-scale maps in the AtoZ.
I spoke to Stella on the phone around mid-day, having myself got back home: she's going well, perhaps halfway through the day's mileage. It's a little chilly (we forgot to provision gloves, which will be rectified after tomorrow!).
This morning our friends came down to see Stella on her way around 9.30, across the river and into Chesil Street past the old Chesil Rectory (now a restaurant). King Alfred's statue isn't all that ancient: not nearly as old as some of the landmark buildings including the Chesil Rectory just round the corner. Then along, up the hill, and off the road onto the Downs proper.
We're working with the AtoZ strip map, but also a Rucksack Reader (http://www.rucsacs.com/) loaned by friends in Hove. Karin and Helmut run a well-respected Artists' Open House, this year including a retrospective for our mutual friend Cyril Mount who died in February. The Reader, as a descriptive guide to the route, is the perfect complement for the full-scale maps in the AtoZ.
I spoke to Stella on the phone around mid-day, having myself got back home: she's going well, perhaps halfway through the day's mileage. It's a little chilly (we forgot to provision gloves, which will be rectified after tomorrow!).
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 | |
| King Alfred bids the walker farewell | Round the corner by Chesil Rectory |
Sunday, 19 May 2013
Starting thoughts and meditation
This hymn by Fred Pratt Green was written in 1974. Verse 3 is the original, later amended, but seems appropriate for a pilgrimage.
To clear and cloudy weather,
And for each other's sake
Restores us to each other:
Remembering God, we say:
This is his world, his day.
As all life needs the sun,
Which never ceases giving,
Even when day is gone,
Its energy for living:
Forget God, though we may,
This is his world, his day.
Each day we must renew
This journey we are taking,
And summon into view
The future of our making!
Forget God though we may,
This is his world, his day.
So now, in solitude,
Or met in Christ together,
We praise our loving God
And pray for one another:
Believing, come what may
This is his world, his day.
Words © 1975 available on the publisher's website
http://www.hopepublishing.com/
A New Day Bids Us Wake
A new day bids us wake
To clear and cloudy weather,
And for each other's sake
Restores us to each other:
Remembering God, we say:
This is his world, his day.
As all life needs the sun,
Which never ceases giving,
Even when day is gone,
Its energy for living:
Forget God, though we may,
This is his world, his day.
Each day we must renew
This journey we are taking,
And summon into view
The future of our making!
Forget God though we may,
This is his world, his day.
So now, in solitude,
Or met in Christ together,
We praise our loving God
And pray for one another:
Believing, come what may
This is his world, his day.
Words © 1975 available on the publisher's website
http://www.hopepublishing.com/
So ... final preparations. The hall is full of kit, including Stella's walking poles which had gone missing but we found "hiding" under a pile of coats. Food's in hand. Good friends have lent an excellent walking guide, to cover the delivery that didn't arrive: and we found an AtoZ map book which is a strip map, along the whole route, from the OS 1:25000 maps. Brilliant!
Route and rendezvous points are worked out: Monday is a B&B night, but after that I'll pick her up to come back home, and drive out again the next day. Doesn't really make sense to spend out lots on B&B when the aim is to raise money.
Shortly, off to church: Pentecost Sunday at Christ Church Lewes, who have Southover Counselling as their local charity for this year. Then head for Winchester.
Route and rendezvous points are worked out: Monday is a B&B night, but after that I'll pick her up to come back home, and drive out again the next day. Doesn't really make sense to spend out lots on B&B when the aim is to raise money.
Shortly, off to church: Pentecost Sunday at Christ Church Lewes, who have Southover Counselling as their local charity for this year. Then head for Winchester.
Saturday, 18 May 2013
Walking the South Downs Way
Between Monday 20th May and Monday 27th May 2013, I'm walking the South Downs Way to raise money for the Southover Counselling Sponsorship Fund.
Southover Counselling is based in Lewes, East Sussex. It is a service which values each individual and aims to restore hope and wholeness to people’s lives. We work from a Christian ethos but our services are offered to all, irrespective of belief. It is a fully professional service run by a team of qualified and experienced counsellors, who are all members of a recognised professional body.
The service is offered to everyone, irrespective of their financial resources. Those who would find full fees a challenge are supported through our Sponsorship Fund.
Today I'm making final preparations.Our biggest problem: getting hold of the relevant maps, since the online order hasn’t met its delivery deadline.
Tomorrow, we head for Winchester and are staying overnight with friends. On Monday I aim to make a prompt start for the day’s walk.
Follow my progress here. If you’d like to know more, visit Southover Counselling or click here to sponsor me.
Southover Counselling is based in Lewes, East Sussex. It is a service which values each individual and aims to restore hope and wholeness to people’s lives. We work from a Christian ethos but our services are offered to all, irrespective of belief. It is a fully professional service run by a team of qualified and experienced counsellors, who are all members of a recognised professional body.
The service is offered to everyone, irrespective of their financial resources. Those who would find full fees a challenge are supported through our Sponsorship Fund.
Today I'm making final preparations.Our biggest problem: getting hold of the relevant maps, since the online order hasn’t met its delivery deadline.
Tomorrow, we head for Winchester and are staying overnight with friends. On Monday I aim to make a prompt start for the day’s walk.
Follow my progress here. If you’d like to know more, visit Southover Counselling or click here to sponsor me.
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