Rain, nothing but the wild rain

Up with the lark for another walk in the country, despite the Gnome having phoned me in the middle of the night thinking I was his son whose 21st birthday it was.

Anton wanted to trace a part of an alternative route which we missed out last time. We set off for a station in the mud somewhere and walked for a few hours without stopping in steady rain. Fortunately we passed a shop where I could buy some waterproof overtrousers. Not our best ever walk, our route being blocked by a fenced off bridge, and paths that had been closed. However, there were few people about and there is a grim enjoyment to trudging in the fresh air in an unremitting deluge.

Terrifying moment towards the end of the walk. An enormous and savage Alsatian dog came rushing at us barking and displaying its incisors. Fortunately it made straight for Anton who, being frozen with terror, looked fairly bleak. I pressed on bravely, muttering words of encouragement until the dog bounded off briefly to fetch the two other Alsatians that were baying in the distance. Anton sped across the field as if all the hounds of hell were after him, and once we'd got through a gate, white with shock, he started ungratefully blaming me.

Eventually we called a halt after finding a pub in a village near Horley, as Anton said, with some feeling, that he needed a drink. It was marvellous to briefly escape the rain and drink a couple of beers before getting a taxi to the station.

We went home, and after I showered and had a bit of a snooze Anton then called around again and we had some sort of Japanese food before setting off on a pub crawl in the rain. Tonight was the last night of cigarette smoking in pubs, and we toured about taking in the smoky atmosphere for the last time. I fully support the legislation, and don't smoke, but it does feel like the end of an era somehow. It will be wonderful, however, to go out and not return home reeking.

Saw a good blues duo in the Lion and Lobster, and then off to a club to see some Rockabilly. Anton had been attracted by the prospect of a Croatian Rockabilly combo. The evening didn't start till 11 and we didn't fancy the prospect of staying up till 4 to see them. However we saw one Rockabilly band. No idea what they were called. Quite enjoyed the Rockabilly fans and the performance. There were quite a few quiffs about, and 50s clothes, and - oddly I thought - ladies employing fans to keep cool. The actual music was, obviously, execrable. Marginally better, however, than Psychobilly. Anton inflicted Psychobilly on me once during the entirety of a drive from Manchester to London and I never, ever want to hear it again.

Below the path. More photos of the walk the true and wonderfull site.