I Saw It Through The Grapevine

Today again started with the by now recently familiar mouse capture and release scenario and then a quick nip out to our local shops before deciding that we would head out for the longest walk we have attempted in ages (which at approximately 5 miles is not exactly like the trek to find the source of the Amazon - but hey!) - through our village, up on to the foothills of the North Downs, past the Neolithic tomb at Kits City (which I think I have mentioned previously in my journal is very sadly almost completely unphotogenic as it is surrounded by high iron railings), through the outskirts of Bluebell Hill village and then back down through some woodland, open paddocks and meadows before descending again through the upper slopes of our local vineyard (where I took both today's images - I like the yellow tape, pylon and puff of distant smoke in the main and the carpet of dandelions and slightly alien looking vines with War of The World vibes in the extra) to our neighbouring village of Eccles and then back again to our home village of Aylesford.
Along the way we managed to encounter a butterfly we'd never seen before, called an orange tip, some goats (thankfully not too close) giving us the hard stare and a customary footpath that now appears to have been fenced off for yet more future housing development but only one other solitary walker. It really did feel like a different world and that we'd been out in the 'elements' for ages when it was probably only a couple of hours.
By the time we arrived back in Aylesford after our 'strenuous' efforts, with my brother's foot and hip beginning to ache, we felt it warranted a pit stop at our local - The Chequers - for a spot of lunch (pork belly bites, garlic bread and loaded fries) and a pint each.
There was then one last one uphill amble to return to The Friars (our local Carmelite Priory) where we lit a candle in memory of our mum and to mark the passing of Pope Francis before returning home.
When we got back we were both felt pretty fatigued after our exertions and slightly sun blushed but happy that we'd made the effort to set out on, and complete, our extended perambulation.
The evening was spent prepping dinner, watching a documentary on volcanoes presented by Dara O Briain and enjoying another well earned beer before discovering yet a further mouse in one of our re-set traps and having a short after dark stroll to release it - so the day ended up finishing just as it had begun!