Off again! Got the train to Petersfield arriving just after 7am, too early for buses (!), waited for a taxi but after 20 mins decided to walk to the start point where I left off in 2024, Hall's Hill Car Park just above Buriton. This was about 2.5 miles, so nothing terrible, and the climb up is not too bad. Got started on the route proper at 8.30am with a plan to walk several 'stages' in the Guide book I was using - Buriton to Amberley, totaling 23 miles on the walk proper with some small distances either side, my pedometer ended up on 27 miles. Not as bad as the Wey South Path's 35 miles I decided to take it a little easier as it was peaking at 29oC and on the WSP in July this year managed to prang my knee after walking the first 5 hours without a break...
Tend to be a bit competitive with myself on the 'regular' WSP walks but have decided to enjoy the South Downs Way more, it has some fabulous scenery, a real pleasure to view.
Perhaps as a result of taking more breaks and walking a more relaxed pace I suffered no 'pranged' knees, sore feet or anything else, the Ibuprofen stayed in the pack, undisturbed!
Took an army surplus desert boonie hat with neck flap I have used a few times now on hot days, and it really does do the job it was intended to do.
However, I don't think I drank enough (despite carrying a typical 3.5 litres) and suffered a little with dehydration on this occasion (not the first time), weighing 12st 11 lbs before setting off, the following morning I was 12st 6 lbs, i.e 5 lbs of fluid loss... back to 12st 11 lbs again the following day after much guzzling!
Often don't stop on a walk (except for 2-3 short breaks to eat and change socks to prevent blisters, something I almost never get whatever the distance, thanks to changing my socks - advice from beyond the grave form my WW1 veteran grand-father...) but this was a pleasure walk so stopped off at the Cadence Clubhouse Cafe at Cocking, it's literally on the SDW right next to Cocking Hill farm. The 'Berry Go Round' ice cold smoothie (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry) on a hot day was so good I thought I'd died and gone to Heaven... Resisted the temptation to have another but must admit that later on I ate a bucketful of wild blackberries by the side of the Way, where they are abundant, certainly in August... 😊
Other notables, walked for a little while on an old flint track which was at one time the Roman road "Stane street" which is not far from the remains of Bignor Roman Villa:-
https://www.bignorromanvilla.co.uk/
with it's superbly preserved mosaic floors, buried for a long time until rediscovered in 1811 by a farmer ploughing his field. Will add a trip to this Villa to the future 'to do' list if I can persuade my wife!
It's hard to describe the pleasure I get from walks such as this, though nice weather helps. The scenery, the fresh air, the exercise and sense of achievement afterwards that you have 'pushed yourself' a little, the time to think without distraction, oh, and no cooking, washing up, or running around after teenage children!
