Trying to race the rain clouds into Alfriston
Another cold night in the tent so I was quickly up and away, knowing that it would be a tough climb back up to where I had left the Way the previous day, and I was right. I eventually reached the ridge but unlike on previous days, I wasn't sweating as much, mainly due to the bitter cold wind blowing into the left hand side of me.
Back on the Way, I was relieved that a level ridge walk would be the start if the day, with lovely views although the cold wind made me want to go fast and keep warm rather than enjoy the view. There would be no high hedges today to give me shelter but I'd rather have no shelter and good views.
It was a pleasant but cold ridge walk mainly on grass for miles before I turned and started to drop down the hill. I could see a busy road at the bottom of it and another ridge behind that so I guessed I was going down to come back up again. A small woodland path took me to the busy road where I crossed it on a bridge and had a rest on a grassy patch for ten minutes, it would be a long day and I needed to take breaks.
After my break I started climbing uphill again towards the next ridge and the path curved round to head East again with Lewes on the left down below. After a while it came to a farm road that went through the middle of some rapeseed plants, it was quite scenic with the sea in the background. I was now heading downhill again and heading towards Rodmell where I thought about leaving the Way to go to the local pub for a drink and a rest but I didn't really want to go off route, so continued onwards hoping for somewhere to get a sit down and then I noticed a bus shelter with a seat, this would be a perfect place to have my lunch.
There were still about eight miles left to walk, firstly over a river, railway crossing and busy road and then up another steep hill. When it levelled out, it would be a pleasant grassy moorland walk for many miles, almost all the way to Alfriston. Looking around, I could see rain falling in many places but luckily I had avoided them so far. A few miles from Alfriston I found somewhere to sit for a short rest and enjoy some quiet time.
My legs were really feeling tired by now, the strong wind hadn't helped as I was fighting that as well and I knew I was only a couple of miles away from Alfriston but it wasn't in sight. What was in sight however was one of the blackest clouds I've ever seen and it was heading my way. On the other side of me was sun and blue sky, it was time to quicken up.
I started descending towards Alfriston with a mile to go like an Olympic walker to try and reach the village before the rain cloud, I'm not sure where I got the extra speed and energy from but I got to my hotel just as the hailstones started and a torrential downpour, I had made it just in time and have had six dry walking days with just one left.
It would be nice tonight to have a decent bed and no tent to put up and take down in the morning plus the luxury of a shower. The best part though is being able to stretch out in bed and not having to wear nearly all my clothes to try and stay warm. The last day tomorrow is a shortish one, about 11 miles and half along the coastline before reaching Eastbourne, the kind of last day that I like as you can take it easy and still be finished about lunch time.
