Ice Creams and Ambulances

Preparing for Beeding Hill

Last walk we started at Checkpoint 5 (Washington) and headed for Checkpoint 7 (Devil's Dyke) - we didn't quite make it due to a combination of bad weather, coffee stops and some stupid big hill we struggled up.

This week we decided to start at Checkpoint 6 (Botolphs) to let Tony enjoy the delights of the hill, with a plan to try and get to Checkpoint 8 (Jack and Jill) and back - a distance of roughly 20 miles.

After being expertly navigated by John to a suspiciously "dogging-like" (according to Tony) car park we donned our waterproofs and boots before settling down to the serious business of sampling this week's selection of energy food.  The "cookies and cream" power bar was good, though may have to be rationed as it is very sweet.  The "strawberry and cranberry" natural energy power bars could be a good compliment ... "The sourness of the fruit works well with the sweetness of the bar" we concluded.

Tony enjoys Beeding Hill immensely

We headed alongside the River Adur, through the housing estate, again resisted the lure of the Rising Sun's roast dinners and headed for "The Hill".  At the bottom we prepared with stretches and the bizarre sensation of actually removing waterproofs and then headed up it ... and this week it didn't seem anywhere near as bad as last time.  Maybe the fact there wasn't any driving rain, or we had already been walking for 3 hours, or maybe we just knew what to expect - which means these training walks along the actual route are proving useful.

Once at the top of the hill the route becomes road based (there is a track to the side which the instructions told us to use, but it is very narrow) as it gently goes up and down past a Youth Hostel (lunch point for last time) and a couple of farm buildings.

Up above the trees and pylons ...

The road then turns into a field based track, still going up and down, with at one point you walking level with the top of some electricity pylons spanning a nearby valley.

Even more bizzarely, the sun (remember that?), decided to come out giving us a glorious blue sky with a couple of gliders buzzing around above.  It also made me feel much better for carrying my "Factor Ginger" suntan lotion for every single walk.

As we got close to the Devil's Dyke checkpoint the track splits in two - one inviting track heads toward the pub perched high above the "Dyke" whilst the South Downs Way continues in a different direction ... 110 degrees on a compass reading apparently ... if I'd remembered to bring the compass ... which I hadn't ... which, obviously, I got no stick for whatsoever.

Ah, team TOWIS, we've been expecting you ...

After passing through a couple of gates the checkpoint is on the other side of the road (we never actually saw it due, again, to the lack of compass) but navigator John pinpointed it on the way back - well pointed left and said "field, that must be it".

The track then skirts across the top of Devil's Dyke before heading steeply down to a road, a slope met with whoops of delight as we contemplated climbing up it on the way back.

After negotiating the fast moving traffic we entered the land around "Saddlescombe Farm" and, in the true spirit of trekking, stopped at the local food van for a tub of "Real Sussex Ice Cream" - and very nice it was too.  Unfortunately, due to our calculations, it'll be evening when we pass this on the day so our plans to stop for a cream tea as dessert to the Ghurka Curry at Checkpoint 7 are tentative at the moment.

Recommended by athletes

After leaving the farm the track ventures up hill again.  I've walked this section before and didn't remember it being too bad - but it was pretty steep, first passing through a small wood before opening out into a field.

At the top, with the weather still warm and sunny, the view was good, if a little hazy (due to weather, not our unfit state) and we could see one of the windmills at Checkpoint 8 sitting proud on top of a distant hill.

We headed down the hill, with a horse jumping event to our left, and reached the A23.  A BP garage and pub sat invitingly on the other side, but we decided to turn round, stop for a spot of lunch, then head back to the car.  Not as much distance as we'd have liked but not a bad distance and time.  On our way back we noticed an Army Medic Van parked near Devil's Dyke, they'd obviously heard we were out walking and felt concerned for our health - thankfully it wasn't needed.

DANGER - fast moving traffic

So in general an enjoyable walk - a couple of big hills but the sun being out, and the welcoming ice-cream-providing van, made them feel ok.

Next time out hopefully Checkpoint 9 to 10 ... and then we aim to up the distance with a "big walk" over the Jubilee Weekend, a great way to salute Her Maj's 60 years on the throne.



Date: 20 May 2012 8:57 am
Distance: 14.9 miles
Elapsed Time: 6:50:44
Avg. Speed: 2.2 mph
Max. Speed: 6.0 mph
Avg. Pace: 27' 38" per mile