Well, at long last it seems to have temporarily stopped raining and that means normal service can resume. So, with Saturday dawning dry (well it wasn't actually raining, although it had rained for most of the night), it was winter cycling gear on and out for a few chilly miles. I didn't go far as I had bigger plans for most of the day, but still managed 60 miles, out via Kinsgsclere, up to the edge of Hungerford and back via Whitchurch, nothing to strenuous, but a good leg stretch none the less and good to be out. With the cycling fun over for the day by lunchtime, it left me plenty of time to put part B of my weekend plans into operation. So, say hello to "the Emma", a quick shower, bit of lunch, sort out of the walking and overnight Bivvy kit, say goodbye to "the Emma" and I'm good to go again. OK, it wasn't actually that quick, but by 15:30 I was on my way to the station, with the plan being to get the train to Winchester and walk back home again, via Alresford, taking the opportunity of a dry night too try out my new winter sleeping bag. The 16:00 train from Basingstoke got me into Winchester for half past and I set off, aiming to pick up the start of the South Downs Way, for an easy start in the right direction. I must confess that I did have a moment of "what the hell am I doing" as I walked through Winchester, passing all the pubs full of people enjoying a post shopping pint, or getting started on their nights out, as I set out for a few hours of walking in the dark and the prospect of a possibly cold night. It didn't take long to put those fleeting thoughts to the back of my mind though and remind myself that I was more likely to remember my night out in a years time than they were their's, and this is far more fun than another wasted day, feeling shabby from a few too many the night before! Quickly out of town and onto the South Downs Way proper, I made good progress, the path here was wide enough and sufficiently well trodden that I could find my way without resorting to a torch, the background light being sufficient to see the way and I plodded steadily on for a couple of hours before stopping for a brew and a tin of hot Mulligatawny soup for my tea. You could say, and you would probably be right, that it's not haute-cuisine, but that tin of soup, sat in the dark, in total silence, with just the stars for company, was up there with some of the best meals I've ever had. Anyone can go and eat in a top notch restaurant, but it takes a special kind of idiot to eat soup out of a saucepan, with a cut down desert spoon, in the middle of nowhere, in November! By 20:30 I was a mile or so from Alresford, with 12 miles under my belt since leaving home and having just had a bit of a navigation blunder, getting disorientated in the dark, whilst looking for a path, decided to call it a night and get my head down. Bivvy up, tucked away under some trees, I was tucked up in bed by 21:00, laying, quietly listening to the owl's calling and some church bells tolling the time away in the distance, as I drifted off to sleep. I stirred a few times in the night and the sky had cleared, with less light pollution, the stars were bright and clearly visible and being clear the temperature had rapidly dropped (not that it was very warm to start with). I slept well though, the new sleeping bag performing better than expected, and, whilst the temperature must have dropped to close to freezing I stayed warm and snug. Early to bed and early to rise, I was up again for 06:00 and on my way by half past, with a frost on the ground, the sun just coming up and views like these to speed me on my way, I couldn't have asked for a better start to the day. A brief stop for breakfast just before Alresford, and the chance to stock up on some cookies for brew o'clock on the way through, saw me picking up the Wayfarers walk path for the journey home, cutting steadily through the Hampshire countryside with just the birds, sunshine and a couple of mountain bikers for company. Home again by mid afternoon, with 28 miles of enjoyable walking and a late Autumn frosty night out under my belt, I don't think that's a bad way to waste 24 hours and hopefully a bit more memorable than a few pints, a kebab and a hangover!
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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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