As usual I wake before my alarm and feel well rested despite sleeping on a narrow track stomped out by sheep. I’m stiff though as I hobble around starting my day. My two little toes both have blisters. I carefully plaster what I can and walk on. Returning to the road, I follow it before it diverts into a footpath and widening out into a lush meadow. Skylarks flit above, shrilly but pleasantly calling before the sun rises.
Over a busy commuter road, I arrive at a water tap under the shade a large birch tree. Dapple shade is offered by the juvenile branches and I begin my morning routine. Losing my thermals, I strip off swiftly, brush my teeth and wash my face with the luxury of the flowing tap, brush my hair. I refill my water bottles and off I go.
The sun slowly rises as I hike up into a hamlet and then passed rows and rows of muddy pens housing pigs ranging in size. Petite piglets follow a large female pig around. I arrive in another field and skirt through the crease of the hills – a trademark of the south Downs. It’s full of sunlight and no shade, I foolishly end the day with sunburn on the back of my calves as I had rolled up my trouser legs to avoid the dewy long grass and not rolled them back down…
The route swaps to a green field with tiny wheat heads rising out the earth.I straddle the busy track which runs parallel to it. Stopping for a bit to eat, I preferring to get a few miles under my belt before I have breakfast,
The gate clangs and a local retired man appears and his eyebrows raise as he spots me.
“Hiking the South Downs way?” he asks I nod, trying to be presentable with a mouthful of cake.
“I love hiking in the South Downs” the man continues “I hike this 9 mile route a few times a week, where are you hoping to get to today?”
“Amberley” I say smiling
“Amberley?! Well good luck to you”
Though several more fields, I ascend and find a large cluster of trees with a stunning view. Now that would have been a way better spot to wild camp. I riffle through my guide book and see that it is called the Chanctonbury Ring. Down I hike on steep gravel and slate path, over a road and end up bypassing Washington on an alternative route.
Down I dissolve, passing hikers and other bikers and a pair on horseback. I skirt Amberley and opt to pass through Houghton hoping for an ice cream, I find a tearooms which is fancy and divert inside.
I sit alone and order a tuna ciabatta sandwich, a slice of chocolate cake and a coke whilst I marvel at being indoors. I sit over looking the car park and can see other hikers in the distance ascending and descending the hill next on my list to venture up. At least I’m avoiding the heat of the day by taking a well earnt pit stop here.
On I hike and the climb out of the village. It actually isn’t that bad, one of those it looks worse than it is kind of things. Crossing a busy road, I enter more fields before reaching the crest of the hill. Up and down a go following the ridge line, passing two antennas and an old sign in Latin – London = Londinum. I descend down to a farm where water is marked on the map but I can’t find a tap or anyone to ask so I plow on.
It is a further 6-7 miles to a place called Locking. The way leads me through Heyshott Downs which is beautiful, So many wild flowers line the route with cowslips, orchids, bugles, red campions, germaine speedwell. I would have loved to have discretely wild camped here but I need water so on I hike. My legs are feeling it today so I listen to Lord of the Rings to keep me on track (The Fellow of the Ring).
Arriving at the bottom of the concrete track, I source a working tap – yay! Then I have to hike on until I can find somewhere suitable to pitch my tent, I would cowboy camp – tent-less under the stars but I feel that I need a deep sleep and know I will only get this if I sleep buried inside my one person shelter.
I opt for the cover of a small woodland as the sun won’t set for another 3 hours and I know I’ll get the best night rest under the canopy of leaves. I scan my map on my phone as I trudge along. A small cluster of trees shaped like a crescent moon is a contender and I aim for it.
Up I go, my legs beginning to loath me with every step, I debate if I could stow away in the corner of a field unnoticed. Red kites loom over head and lambs frolic in the evening breeze as I listen to my book (Frodo and the other hobbits have just made it to the prancing pony and are about to meet Strider). The woodland appears and looks promising, I turn off and disappear inside. I’m swift to perform my evening rituals and am in bed for 6:30pm 😀
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