Hikes
Day 2 – The Jurassic Way
Fineshade Abbey to Rockingham The one with the limbo dancing 🕺, a few squiggles and a full English treat! DISTANCE: 15.8 miles! WEATHER: very windy today but the sun shone and no rain. Health: Julia, sore hips and swollen pinkie toe. Debby is using tiger balm to help with aching shoulders. Rebecca, feels good, except…
Read MoreDay 1 – The Jurassic Way
DAY 1 – THE JURASSIC WAY Stamford to Fineshade Abbey The one with the wrong train, the frigging cat and the perfect campsite. Distance: 14.97 miles, 35k steps. Weather: overcast with a splattering of rain. 21 degrees. Summary:- 😷 MK station is very well organised for COVID. Everyone was wearing masks, although there were not…
Read MoreSOUTH DOWNS WAY – DAY 8 – EXCEAT TO EASTBOURNE
Weather: Just right. Perfect walking weather. Difficulty Level: Tough, but a short day. Location: Exceat Country Park to Eastbourne! Yippee! Distance Travelled: 10.61 miles All good! The one where I became a thru-hiker and greeted by a surprise guest! WEATHER: Just right! The sun was shining, and a gentle breeze came off the sea, cooling…
Read MoreSOUTH DOWNS WAY – DAY 7 – LEWES to EXCEAT
Weather: Rain! Then drizzle, then overcast. Difficulty Level: Lots of ups and downs. Location: Kingston on Lewes to Exceat Country Park Distance Travelled: 18 miles Bad ankle, but everything else is good. DAY 7 – ONCE UPON THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY The one with the bull, the rain, and the discovery that waterproof socks are…
Read MoreSOUTH DOWNS WAY – DAY 6 – TRULEIGH HILL to LEWES
Weather: A mix of hot, windy and cool. Difficulty Level: Tough day! Location: YHA Truleigh Hill to Kingston on Lewes Distance Travelled: 18 miles Health: Everything aches! The one where we acted like teenagers!! WEATHER: A mix of hot, windy and cool. DISTANCE: 18 miles (according to Jason or 20.4 miles according to my…
Read MoreSOUTH DOWNS WAY – DAY 5 | AMBERLEY TO TRULEIGH HILL
Weather: Hot until mid day, then overcast. Difficulty Level: Moderate today Location: Amberley to YHA Truleigh Hill Distance Travelled: 16.54 miles Health: Painful ankle! The one where I’m joined by an excitable Jason! WEATHER: Hot until midday, then overcast for later afternoon. DISTANCE: 16.54 miles LOCATION: Amberly to Truleigh Hill SUMMARY THE LONG WINDED…
Read MoreSOUTH DOWNS WAY – DAY 4 | COCKING TO AMBERLEY
Weather: Another scorcher! Difficulty Level: Moderate today Location: Cocking to Amberley Distance Travelled: 14.62 miles Health: All good. No pain today. The one with the sexy male runner at 6 am! WEATHER: Another scorcher! DISTANCE: 14.62 miles LOCATION: Cocking to Amberly SUMMARY 📚 Today I plugged myself into an audiobook and the miles flew…
Read MoreTEN BACK PACKING LESSONS LEARNED FROM WALKING THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY
Many people may think that I am a seasoned hiker/camper, but in reality, that is not the case. Yes, I have enjoyed many adventures and even long-distance trails such as the Camino, The Cotswold Way etc, but on all of those trails, I slept in a comfortable bed, not a tent. Camping whilst hiking is…
Read MoreSOUTH DOWNS WAY – DAY 3 | BURITON TO COCKING
Weather: Not too hot… just right! Difficulty Level: Still in pain. Not as many hills. Location: Buriton to Cocking Distance Travelled: 16.49 miles Health: Started ok, and ankle was bad at the end. The one with the penis display! WEATHER: A sprinkling of sunshine throughout the day with a nice cool breeze. Perfect walking weather.…
Read MoreWHAT LEVEL OF SPANISH DO I NEED FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAMINO?
Do I need to speak Spanish to walk the Camino? It would be very arrogant for any future pilgrim to expect the people of Spain to speak English. Yes, in the big towns and larger villages, you will often be greeted in English (the Spanish can spot us a mile off!), but in the smaller…
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