A new perspective

Today was a reality check. Not every day on the Downs is about clear views to the sea.

Joined by Toby for his 51st birthday we left Cocking in a mizzly sort of way.

We couldn’t see the views from the day before but we were soon in woods made more mysterious by the damp, dank conditions.

A sparrow hawk flew across the path towards Graffham and skylarks didn’t seem put off by the rain – they were abundant through the cornfields where you can usually see to the Downs above Brighton.

The track to Bignor saw us beetle watching and we came across a range of wild flowers including a berry like blackberry but more purple ( featured) that I couldn’t identify.

High above the Arun valley we had a brief picnic on the aptly-named Toby stone memorial and then made a wet and windy way to Amberley – stumbling across an unorthodox scene in a field…( see pic below)

Normally, I don’t see The Downs in this light – I only go out on the good days. But maybe I should. It made us look down – seeing beetles and other insect life and up across the rolling cloud formations.

Having said that – I hope to get a glimpse of the sea tomorrow!