The Ashdown Forest this November in all its glory, so much to discover for the keen hiker if you don't mind getting a bit muddy on your boots and trouser legs ☺️

I was keen to get on with the Sussex Diamond Way from Midhurst to Heathfield this year, but the wife made me see sense with weather and less daylight etc. almost did it 😆one for 2026, anyway it's Ashdown Forest for a while, not a bad place to walk in circles ©️

End of The Ouse Valley Way for me @ Seaford, time clean my boots and put them in the boot bag for 2025, time to think ahead to 2026 for more hiking adventures 🥾🥾

Almost finished the the Ouse Valley Way before it started, got to Lewes this week, so only just 10 miles to Seaford left, another trail to add to my collection, more to come in 2026 to keep this hiker happy, trying to use my bus pass a bit more and try avoiding nipping up to East Croydon to get home

Finally got going on the Ouse Valley Way in West Sussex, going west to east heading towards Seaford over 3 legs of 42 miles, today's walk was about 16 miles ending in Lindfield 🤠

After my 2nd Thames adventure some 10 days ago, I felt it was too early to hang up my walking boots for the season, so I repeated the 15 miles from Sheffield Park to home today, will fit in the Ouse Valley Walk here in Sussex the next few weeks, after that it's the planning phase for 2026 hikes.

Great view from London Bridge if you look up on the local architecture 😁

Completing my 2nd Thames walk today only 108 days after setting off from Kemble, not continuous as I have been home a few times 😁, day 15 of walking 🥾🥾

Out early today to beat the weather coming this way, East Court in East Grinstead before any risk of the wet stuff, good prep for final leg of the Thames Foothpath later this week, short walks I tend to walk at a high pace, short is anything less than 1 hour 😊 as I don't gym anymore this will do ✌️

Fast closing in on the end of Thames 2 for me, just Erith to Gravesend left now in a few weeks, well and truly out of the metropolis that is London, did notice that the birds on the river that was missing in London returned steadily as I moved eastwards towards Kent, great 😃👍

On this 2nd trek through the capital I have noticed a big difference since my first Thames walk in 2022, there are a lot of delivery e-bikes being ridden totally reckless and too close to us pedestrians, the growth of delivery riders on bikes is a pet dislike of mine. How long can this go on?.

Now through to Greenwich in quest to complete the Thames Footpath for the 2nd time, weather much cooler now and not as unpleasant as it was earlier in June on the leg between Oxford and Reading, two day trips left, only 14 and 16 miles, today was almost 20 miles which is enough for me at my age ☺️

Getting on with the job of walking the Thames for the 2nd time, got to Barnes Bridge last night after the big Kew detour, end target is Gravesend and 3 day trips from now should do it 🥾🤠, new hat did the job well with buildin ventilation, which a traditional cap does not do, it beat the heat 🥵

On the Thames Footpath, now reached Shepperton from Windsor today, some 15.8 miles, added 3 miles to today's walk as that makes next week's walk to Barnes Bridge slightly shorter, as it was too early to stop @ Chertsey, no doubt I'll get my reward for some clever thinking next week 😁

Just on the off chance, I've been a user of Optrex eye drops for well over 20 years due to itchy eyes, recently the manufacturer has changed the bottle shape/look a couple of times, plus now the contents, which stings my eyes like mad, anyone else here on BS that is familiar with this issue. Thx.

Ashdown Forest, beauty and dramatic effect all in one, mustn't get side tracked, as it's back to the business of the Thames Footpath next week, now approaching London 🧐

That's another leg on the Thames done, got to Windsor from Marlow today, back in a couple of weeks for the first of 5 day trips to complete the job 🥾🥾 @ Gravesend , pretty swans and woodland near Maidenhead 😁

Birdies on the river Thames 👍

Bourne End, just been overtaken by a very slow Marlow Donkey 🐴 I don't feel slow @ 3.2 mph 😁

Morning from Marlow 😁🥾🥾

On my way to Reading for the next installments of the Thames Footpath, tomorrows target is Windsor, after that 5 day trips left of my 2nd adventure next to this great river, at least no more staying overnight, as the rest is in reach of home 🏠

Monday I walked the last leg of the Thames Footpath to Grain from Gravesend with @johnmtippetts.bsky.social which was last leg for John's 6th TFP, but not for me as I still got to to back and carry on from Reading next week, but sharing 23 miles with this Thames legend was one temptation too many 😆

It's all out zombies around here, well phone zombies, they do not even respond to me announcing my presence walking in the opposite direction, doh 😱 I was merely out for my daily 3 miler, better do a risk assesment next time before hand and get them to sign it before the walk commences 🤪

Got to Reading Friday early afternoon on the Thames FP after 44 miles in the middle of a heatwave over 3 days, focused on making the right choices with clothing and drink intake, no major issues except fallen trees and diversions. It was not like that in 23 when on the Thames last, what's going on?

Wonderful early walk to beat the heat on Ashdown Forest this morning Bunkers Hill next to Crowborough 😁🥾

I made it to Goring yesterday, assisted by cool liquids and reducing my wearables to just a t-shirt and shorts, plenty of shade along the river Thames were a factor too, Royal Ascot had issues with the heat but then I did not take champagne on board while walking, don't really like the stuff 🥵

A very hot day on the Thames yesterday walking 16 miles from Oxford to Clifton Hampden, a couple of pub visits for refreshments, only soft drinks, rewarded with great views, more today walking to Goring

Lovely cup of coffee @ Redhill train station before setting off for the next leg on the Thames Foot Path 🥾

Lets make a deal, you keep off the pavement and I stay off the road whilst walking, unless I cross it, I did not see you do that, but your antics makes me cross 😠

Trekked to Aygarth Falls this morning from Askrigg, a lovely 11.5 miles, putting me in the right condition for next weeks continued adventure on the Thames 😊

First Yorkshire Peak for me today, my choice fell on Ingleborough, a good 10 ½ mile trek to the summit, but my was the many steps up to Little Ingleborough tough, must have taken me some 45 minutes just for this section, not to be underestimated 😟

First read about Tan Hill Inn in Neil Hanson's excellent book from 2013 about the pub in the Dales, just been there myself, what a pub, certainly busy with customers like me, excellent pie lunch ☺️

Betty's in Harrogate 😜 highly recommend 👍

Got to Oxford after 55 miles over 4 days, weather milder today after overnight rain, but that was actually a blessing, as I got a bad track record with hot weather and hiking, anyway a few pictures picked up on the way, it's certainly buttercup season 🌺 sorry best image, wrong colour 😉

New Bridge near Witney is in the middle of nowhere if you are on foot, which I am, trek to Oxford awaits tomorrow after 4 days of Thames impressions plentiful 😲 more to follow but right night I'll break from my healthy hiking habit 🥾🥾

Lovely day walking along the Thames, only focused on getting to the hotel with a nice hot shower and a lie down to recover 😉

More morning glory from the Thames ☺️

Morning Thames lovers ☺️

I do know that pictures enhance a posting but they are still on my camera, however I did too see probably 30'ish Canada Geese signets, what a joy filled sight 🐦🐦🐦 again in the field near Inglesham Church approaching Lechlade 🥾🥾

Day 2 on the Thames, Cricklade to Lechlade, the highlight was to discover that a wooden bridge taking me into a field near Inglesham Church (Saint John's) was not blocked like last time in 2023 by 200 cows being very reluctant to allow me through, no cow security this time, not a single one spotted.

Got my breakfast 🥞 in Cricklade @ Barista, not one for cooked breakfast normally, but the brunch stack was exquisite 😋 in no rush today as it's only 11 miles to Lechlade, so at least I can enjoy the scenery along the Thames 😁 🥾🥾

Interesting to see how the water in the Thames goes from none to a puddle to a proper river as you walk eastwards from the Source, have not been there in the winter but flooded fields springs to mind 😲

Update from today's trek from Kemble to Cricklade on the Thames Footpath, then picture 3 is from Ewen where I walked through mud 2 years ago, but now there's a low foot bridge put in by the very kind county council, thank you ever so much ☺️ dry 🐾 this time 👍 more cows too on my jolly way 🥾

Greetings from the Thames Source, reporting signs still in one piece 👍

Inspired by @johnmtippetts.bsky.social I am setting off for my 2nd Thames adventure later this month, this time I'll start @ Kemble and trek eastwards, I've too been inspired not to stop at Erith, but keep going to Grain Beach, might just do it, should suffice for 2025 walking requirements 🤠

Went to see and hear Unravelling Wilburys here in East Grinstead last night, no photos or video here as we were asked not to do that, as the band members were not as good looking as they used to be 😄 still a bunch of seniors playing music by one of my all time favourites was a true treat, thank you.

Stay out of the water 😱 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rowing...

Increased character count of 299 in posts here on BSky, but only today if I got it correct, why? Could it be a cruel April fools day prank !!!

Have done large part of the coastal walk in the past, but hey you are allowed to be desperate for a hike, unfortunately mist was a frequent companion on my way 🌫️

First hiking warm up event of the year completed this week, Eastbourne to Brighton over Seaford and Newhaven, will carry on after Easter from Brighton to Bognor, after that focus should shift to my 2nd Thames walk