In the words of Wallace "twas a grand day out Grommit", ok for Hugo, Rockmonkey & I it was anyway.
The day started off in the grips of a good haw frost and sub zero temps, to the point we couldn't walk up the lane as we normally do as it was akin to a skating rink, so up the fields it was - shame![Roll Eyes :rolleyes: :rolleyes:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
So cold in fact, the horses and ponies in the paddock had highlights added by Jack Frost to their coats
Where we were headed, beyond the furthest most hill in the picture
One of the many skating rinks in the fields, still at least there was no cloying mud this week as the ground was frozen iron hard.
Up the track and despite it looking soggy, it was like walking on rock, well, in most places![Wink ;) ;)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
View out towards the hills
Early Periwinkle in the farm yard, albeit it's south facing and has an old wooden barn behind it
further up the lanes and tracks we arrive at our first destination for the day, the Piney Woods as we call them, in reality they are a mix of a Redwood plantation and naturally seeded Ash & Sycamore,
we tried doing some carving while we were in these woods, not a chance, the wood was frozen solid, so we stashed the wood and headed on our way
nearing the top of this path
and out into glorious sunshine and a view along the South Downs
A shrafter in his element
Gorgeous landscape
where had come from
Old farm that is no longer a farm, there's a Spitfire down there
couple of general landscape shots
Up past the old pits
Looking south towards the English Channel
Lunch stop, and time to break out the Monkey Boy stove and my curried spoon
Fed and watered it was onwards and downwards
not long before we were back in the woods
and then after a short walk, we were at the bottom the hill and in the still icy coombe
and then on our way down the hill and back to the cars.
as always it was a great day out, we covered just under eight miles in total, roll on next week, by all accounts, we could be bimbling in the snow
The day started off in the grips of a good haw frost and sub zero temps, to the point we couldn't walk up the lane as we normally do as it was akin to a skating rink, so up the fields it was - shame
![DSCN1615.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1615.jpg)
![DSCN1616.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1616.jpg)
So cold in fact, the horses and ponies in the paddock had highlights added by Jack Frost to their coats
![DSCN1618.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1618.jpg)
Where we were headed, beyond the furthest most hill in the picture
![DSCN1623.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1623.jpg)
![DSCN1628.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1628.jpg)
One of the many skating rinks in the fields, still at least there was no cloying mud this week as the ground was frozen iron hard.
![DSCN1624.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1624.jpg)
Up the track and despite it looking soggy, it was like walking on rock, well, in most places
![DSCN1634.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1634.jpg)
View out towards the hills
![DSCN1638.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1638.jpg)
Early Periwinkle in the farm yard, albeit it's south facing and has an old wooden barn behind it
![DSCN1639.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1639.jpg)
further up the lanes and tracks we arrive at our first destination for the day, the Piney Woods as we call them, in reality they are a mix of a Redwood plantation and naturally seeded Ash & Sycamore,
![DSCN1642.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1642.jpg)
we tried doing some carving while we were in these woods, not a chance, the wood was frozen solid, so we stashed the wood and headed on our way
![DSCN1650.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1650.jpg)
![DSCN1657.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1657.jpg)
nearing the top of this path
![DSCN1660.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1660.jpg)
and out into glorious sunshine and a view along the South Downs
![DSCN1665.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1665.jpg)
A shrafter in his element
![DSCN1666.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1666.jpg)
Gorgeous landscape
![DSCN1675.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1675.jpg)
where had come from
![DSCN1677.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1677.jpg)
Old farm that is no longer a farm, there's a Spitfire down there
![DSCN1681.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1681.jpg)
couple of general landscape shots
![DSCN1682.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1682.jpg)
![DSCN1683.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1683.jpg)
Up past the old pits
![DSCN1685.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1685.jpg)
Looking south towards the English Channel
![DSCN1690.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1690.jpg)
Lunch stop, and time to break out the Monkey Boy stove and my curried spoon
![DSCN1696.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1696.jpg)
Fed and watered it was onwards and downwards
![DSCN1697.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1697.jpg)
not long before we were back in the woods
![DSCN1698.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1698.jpg)
and then after a short walk, we were at the bottom the hill and in the still icy coombe
![DSCN1703.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1703.jpg)
and then on our way down the hill and back to the cars.
![DSCN1706.jpg](http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/Kepisbushcraft3/Bimble 16-1-2013/DSCN1706.jpg)
as always it was a great day out, we covered just under eight miles in total, roll on next week, by all accounts, we could be bimbling in the snow