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Duncan had proposed doing an overnight (or 2 overnights) MTB trip along the S Downs Way, and the plan had been in gestation for quite some time, for it needed to fit in with his holidays. We eventually fixed on the 4th – 6th June, and I would take my bike on the train down to Hove and back.
Unfortunately I started to develop a bit of sore troath before a couple of days before... ... but it didn’t feel too bad and I thought I would be OK.
However, cycling to station on Tuesday morning I felt much more out of breath than usual. But I didn’t heed the warning signs…
Getting to Hove involved 4 changes of train; but to my surprise it all went perfectly satisfactorily, and I got to Duncan’s place at around 14.30. There was no great hurry since rain was forecast up to 18.00. The plan was to cycle as far along the SDW as I felt well enough to go.
I had no packs for the bike, so I was planning to carry my gear in my rucksack - I thought this would be OK, since I was using my relatively new superlight gear…
But the pack was feeling heavy and quite uncomfortable when I was cycling.
Fortunately, Duncan had a spare large saddle bag into which I could pack some of the heavier stuff, and once I’d also divested myself of various things I’d brought down to his place, but didn’t need for the cycling part of the trip, the sac was MUCH lighter, and really quite comfortable.
Duncan had ALL the right gear
...
We took the train down to Eastbourne, where we planned to start, and by 17.00 the rain had eased off a lot and was looking like it would stop pretty soon.
There was a heavy mist when we started...
....but the route is well signposted,
...and anyway Duncan was pretty familiar with the route, having done it in the opposite direction. I had to dismount for steep parts of the path, but didn’t feel too bad provided I took it slowly.
And once we got away from the coast the mist cleared somewhat, and we were able to enjoy some excellent views of the countryside thereabouts.
The uphills were rather hard work...
...but downhills were a lot of fun, especially as they’re generally not so steep that one has to do a lot of braking.
We got to Firne around 20.45, and had a serious slap up meal. Plus a couple of halves of shandy
– which I’d probably have been better advised to eschew, given my bug.
Had to push my bike up most the hill back up on to the SDW.
The mist was now super-thick: visibility literally no more than 10 metres – I don’t think I’ve ever been in mist so thick. Duncan had found an excellent site – out of sight of both the SDW path, and the properties below the ridge. It took me about 2 minutes to prepare my sleeping quarters (basically just blowing up the three quarter length mattress, then slipping into the bivvy bag), while it took Duncan a little longer – but only 5 minutes or so – to get his (new, lightweight) tent up and ready. We crashed immediately - or almost immediately (perhaps Duncan should also have eschewed the third pint!!!).
I woke briefly in the middle of the night, to find myself staring up at a starlit sky – sea mist gone. I was toasty warm, and dropped off shortly thereafter, waking some little while later – around 7.00am – to see Duncan striking his tent.
Apparently there'd been a nice sunrise...
We breakfasted at leisure in the morning sun - here is Duncan engaged in that most critical of morning tasks: brewing the coffee!
It looked like it was going to be a great day
so we lingered a good while, listening to the ever-active skylarks and just chillin'.
Then we packed up and headed onwards.
And as soon as we started off, though, I knew I had a problem: I just felt as weak as a kitten. Duncan was very understanding, even though I had to push the bike up most of the hills. At least the downhills were fun!
And the birdsong was phenomenal: skylarks on the tops, and innumerable blackcaps in the wooded sections. This really does seem to be the year of the blackcap
)).
We stopped for a coffee mid-morning, but when we restarted, I found it harder and harder. It’s bad enough with AF; but AF and a flu bug really don’t go together. In the end I couldn't even manage the mildest incline...
So by the time Lewes hove into sight (tee hee), I realised I would have to stop. So descended fast from the ridge (loverly!), and then pootled along the more or less level lanes to the town...
On the way Duncan was amused enough by this to take a pic...
After a leisurely lunch at the legendary Bill’s, we trained it back to Hove.
But I’d seen enough to want to have a go again when – ideally the AF is resolved but in any event – I’m not struggling with a flu bug.
Our savagely curtailed route...
