I guess it`s that time of the year - summertime has gone and seems a long way away, the clocks went back an hour last night (not that it makes any difference when you`ve got a dog); the Covid thing and all its works is still with us; my SAD thingy has kicked in and the Saints are at home to league leaders Everton in a couple of hours time, all of which combined to make me want to get away from it all.

So this morning we did the best we could do to achieve that by having a good walk up along the Pilgrims Way in the Kent Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is a ten minute car ride from home.  It was a bit early and quiet what with the clocks going back and folk without dogs being able to enjoy the extra hour in bed. 

It was a bit wet with a brisk wind blowing  in occasional showers and a bit muddy under foot but we enjoyed a decent walk for an hour or two along this ancient trackway which leads all the way from Winchester to Canterbury.  Dudley enjoyed a good scamper off the lead and some optimistic chases after a few endangered pheasants and throughout our time there we only saw two other people - a couple of cyclists - and I was struck by the silence, the autumn colours and the carpet of leaves that covered most of the path.

A brief escape before `normal service` is resumed in a world which seems increasingly fraught for all kinds of reasons.   Anyway, here`s my photo of a bit of the Pilgrims Way where we walked today.  It looks very tempting, very inviting and I`m already looking forward to next time to enjoy its peace, its history and away-from-it-all escapism.....