Well, this isn’t the start to my Christmas leave that I had planned. What I had actually planned was a cheeky wee attempt at a mid winter assault on the South Downs Way. 100 miles of walking fun, with a bit of camping thrown in for good measure. Instead, I’m safely ensconced in a Travelodge, gently stewing in an overheated room with a big truck sat outside the window with it’s engine running! So, why may you ask, am I not on the South Downs? Well, it’s like this. Have you been outside? It’s bloody freezing! No, that's not the real reason, the real reason is what's supposedly coming our way on Sunday. I’ve been watching the weather all week, in fact I’ve been out in it a few times. A bit of cold’s not normally enough to stop me, and in fact it hasn’t stopped me this time either. What’s actually stopped me, is the heavy band of rain that’s heading our way for Sunday and Monday and the fact that the cold spell is likely to have played havoc with water resupply options. In fact my winter South Downs Way attempt seems to have been doomed from the start. Having had this one in the back of my mind for a while, I’d planned on getting the train down to Eastbourne straight from work on Friday and walking back towards Winchester over a few days. The plan being to be home again in plenty of time for Christmas. And then I discovered that there aren’t any trains on Friday due to strike action (I rarely travel by train, but that’s twice in the last couple of months my plans have been scuppered by the unions). Luckily, having discovered this inconvenience a couple of weeks ago, ‘The lovely Emma’ offered to drop me off in Winchester instead, so I was back in the game, just heading the wrong way! And then it got a bit chilly! That’s fine though, I’ve woken up covered in frost on more than one occasion before, so I dug out an extra pair of socks and an extra hat and was all set to go. And then I saw the weather forecast for Sunday and Monday, and that coupled with the fact that all the taps and water resupply points were likely to be frozen solid, sort of swung it, from ‘what a brilliant adventure’ to ‘what a stupid idea’. So, Thursday night, after having a chat with ‘The Emma’ who said, ‘That’s the most stupid idea you've ever had and I’d be happier if you didn’t go’, I was at a loose end for the weekend. I suppose I could have just done what most normal people would have done and stayed at home, watched TV and ate Hob Nobs, but where’s the fun in that? So Instead, I had a quick look on the internet and found a cheap hotel room for Friday night, which just happened to be 70 miles away from home, put the walking stuff back in the loft, got my cycling kit back out and came up with plan B. A cheeky overnight on the bike, complete with toasty warm hotel room, and back home again before the rain arrives, a fine case of making the most of a bad hand if ever I’ve seen one! So that my friends is why I’m sat here now, in my too hot hotel room, in just my thermals, because they’re all the spare clothes I’ve got with me (is that too much information?) and not on the South Downs Way, swinging gently in my Hammock. It has however been a brilliant day out. A couple of hours at work this morning, wrapping up the loose ends before I finish for Christmas, gave the world a few hours to warm up to a more manageable temperature. But, with the sun beaming down from a cloudless blue sky just about managing to melt some of the frost which has been beautifying the world for the last few days, I was on my way as soon as I possibly could. With 2 thermal tops, a cycling jersey and a thick jacket, plus an extra pair of running tights over my cycling trousers, a neck warmer, a hat, some wrist warmers, thick socks and thick gloves, I was fully prepared for whatever winter has been throwing our way. In fact, once the sun started to do it’s magic I had to lose a layer, although as the day wore on and the sun started to wain I was glad to pop it back on again, and I’ll happily admit that it’s been pretty cold at times this afternoon. With the heavy frost still coating the verges and surrounding countryside, the sun low in the sky, and the quiet stillness that only a cold, wind free, winters day brings, it’s been a beautiful afternoon. Heading East, with the sun on my face, the Kites and Buzzards soaring majestically, Crows, starkly black against the blue winters sky, picking through the roadside vegetation in search of a meal. Squirrels out searching for their long buried nuts in the wooded lanes scurrying around. Red breasted Robins providing a splash of colour against the browns of winter, and most sensible people hiding at home leaving the roads quiet, it’s been a magical afternoon out.
A flask of hot noodles washed down with a flask of tea sat on a handy roadside log in the afternoon sun whilst watching the world go by for a few minutes, a couple of ‘The Emma’s’ home made biscuits for an afternoon snack whilst admiring the snowy landscape, and a warm sausage roll from a handy garage a few miles from the days destination as the sun sank below the horizon and the temperature really dropped, kept the hunger pangs at bay. I’ll admit to frozen toes, chilled fingers, tiptoeing along icy roads in fear of coming a cropper, but does it get any better than a winter adventure? I think not! Oh, and I get to do it all again tomorrow morning, when I head back home!
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Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
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