Another bright and sunny morning, 14c earlier, rising to 20c this arvo. Barely a breeze.
Mater visit went well. She’s certainly giving the impression that she’s back to her usual sunny self (as many are want to do), but I’m not entirely convinced. Even so, she does seem fine, all things considered – she’d just got back from her weekly trip to MacDonald’s with my older brother!
White Horse Hill was as wonderful as ever. It always amazes me just how far you can see from the Disabled Parking area near the top. I’d also forgotten the wonderful smell of ‘concentrated sheep’ that quite simply imbues both turf and air – far more even than on the Downs. I’m really really glad it wasn’t busy, though, because the two-way, single-track road up up up/down down down the hill is a bit ‘exciting’ if you meet something coming the other way – low bank along the edge with a big drop on the other side! I considered it good training for our eventual move to north Wales. 😉
I decided to save Whittenham Clumps for next time. In fact there’s not a lot of point going to Round Hill or Castle Hill now that I can’t walk over it all, because the ‘views’ (west across the plain and north across the Thames) are from the top and the car park’s at the bottom and on the ‘wrong’ side. Ditto visiting Little Whittenham and Day’s Lock. Ho-hum.