May 4 was the day after the local elections. Time to turn away from Plymouth, Barnet, Dudley, Westminster and from Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May and all the other participants in the squabbling stasis that is today's politics in Britain. It is like a large elephant stuck in deep mud thrashing around and trumpeting but making … Continue reading Escaping British politics →

Our Portland weekend was the week after Easter. The holiday weekend had been a cold washout, but the next weekend the temperatures were thinking of increasing. More importantly the rain decided to take a break. But on the way down we saw lambs wrapped up in little blue jackets which said that spring had not … Continue reading We make faster progress when it’s flat →

Our walking weekends have neatly bracketed the arrival and departure of the Beast and the Mini-Beast, although the Micro-Beast still looks possible for Easter. Martin had done some reconnaissance on the Friday and declared the going better than expected in spite of all the melted snow. It then rained hard all night, but even after … Continue reading Spring looked possible as summer time arrived →

On 23 February the “Beast of the East” had been named and was beginning to work up enthusiasm for cooling the UK. But in its advance we had two wonderful walking days. Ambition was limited in part because of our competence and in part because significant Westward progress was blocked by the Lulworth ranges being … Continue reading Beating the ‘Beast’ →

The decision must have been made with the help of some wine. It’s the sort of decision men in their late ‘60s and early ‘70s are prone to make, and we must be among many thousands who have decided that walking the South West Coast Path is the essential next step in life. How many … Continue reading We decide to walk – setting off →