Today was organised as a 20 mile practice team walk on The South Downs Way. We walked from Upper Beeding to Lewes, essentially stages 7 through 9 of the Trailwalker itself. A linear walk, cars were left at each end to allow options for most outcomes. As luck would have it, the foreacast was for the hottest day of the year (until the next one, that is). There was a heat haze that traduced the scenic photo contrast. It was unusually still, if the number of windmills is indicative of prevailing conditions.
We were seven. Snow White, Doc, Grumpy, Bashful, Happy, me and a guest, S walked along the banks of the Adur under high factor sunscreen, discussing the different strategies to avoid blisters and worrying about water. We passed the Rising Sun pub and then the upended fishnetted legs of a manequin in a field - perhaps we were not the only mad folk in these parts - a thought that may have propelled us to the top of Beeding Hill.
