Home to the Newhaven Sea
18 Mar 2009
On Sunday I left home at 03:50 on the first of four long training walks in preparation for my Dorset Coast Challenge Walk. The near full moon was shining brightly as I descended the North Downs, and an owl silently swooped into my path. The clear dark skies hinting at the weather to follow, which meant the only items I was lacking were sun cream, sunglasses and electrolytes. I finished a little sun burnt; in March!
I passed much as I crossed the in-lying land between the North and South Downs; a small herd of deer swiftly flocking and hurdling a high fence, black woolen lambs, a wild daffodil wood in full bloom, a scurrying weasel and many butterflies of yellow, or red and black, dancing in the spring sun.
I took a rest stop beside the meandering River Ouse, which at thirty-five miles was most welcome. My plan was for one stop of twenty minutes; long enough to remove my trainers, rest my feet and replace my muddy socks with a fresh pair. My muscles were stiff for the first few minutes upon starting again, but soon regained their former stride!
A group of canoeists paddled against the incoming tide as I approached Lewes and the two steep climbs between the finish and me. The first; The Caburn, was covered with Paragliders on its southern face which looked onto the second; Beddingham Hill of the South Downs.
I was by now craving something savory, my mouth and tongue feeling very sweet from the many energy bars I had consumed during the previous thirteen hours. My nutrition plan had worked well however, with seven miles to go I was bang on the faster of my two planned time schedules, as I had been at each of the previous points. Meaning that I had kept the same pace for the past forty-three miles!
Throughout the last section my mind was filled with the idea of finishing quickly to meet the train home. My legs decided they wanted to trot down the Downs, so I trotted. My mind decided it wanted to sing, so I sang. A sure sign of a fatigued mind, dancing in repetitive circles! And then I was there. Right on time, just as the rail replacement bus arrived!
So I had finished, and was sitting down, and I was glad for that! Fifty miles in fourteen hours! I was happy with how the walk and gone while aware that on the Dorset Coast I will be faced with an additional 35 miles which is not too bad but also four times the ascent!
