Chalky Downs

During that time in between Christmas and New Year (as it is now), I get a craving to get out of the house, see a big sky and inhale fresh air. It is a reaction to being indoors, over indulging in good food and drinking plenty of red wine. One of the places I love to go is up on the South Downs. The sky gets bigger as you climb and the view further. The day before yesterday I set off with my husband our two boys and two dogs from the base of the 'northern face'. Due to illness and cold, however, our ascent was cut short but today, I set off again in -1˚C of frost and a keen northerly wind. Just me and the dogs aiming for the sun at the top. Whenever I walk the Downs, I always notice tiny animal paths worn on the grass, sheep trails, mountain bike tyre tracks and, on this path, the way that the chalk is worn away by heavy rainstorms leaving gulleys in the chalky, soft path. I wish I had had a pen and paper or a good camera with me. This picture is a sketch of how I saw the path quickly jotted down in Illustrator. Not right but a good reminder of my frosty, chalky walk. I would like to do some more 'sketches'. Ideally even a painting or two adding some better observed details.