Jack and Jill

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.

Howth

Sitting after lunch, I thought to join our guests on the train to Howth and walk back. A marathon distance walk needed a bit more respect than that. I'd already walked in the morning but this was too great an opportunity to improve my daily average. And so in my haste, I only wore one pair of socks. Think blisters. And add blisters under the blisters and you'll understand the consequences.

I bought bottles and bars outside the train station. Then took off up the old tramway to Howth Summit, a tramway still remembered sixty years after it closed, following just fifty years of service.

At the summit, encouraged to find Samaritan phone numbers on road signs, I made a loop back towards Balscasden Road to get some pictures of Lambay Island against the Mourne Mountains. Then down by Heather Cottage to look at the Kittiwakes crying, Fulmar's flying and Guillemots vying (for shelf space). And south to The Bailey lighthouse passing families and friends who walk like they actually want to extend their time together; imagine that. Three people taking arty photos with a small grass fire they've set to provide atmosphere - among tinder dry gorse, what were they thinking? I emerged from the rocky pathways at the Sutton Martello Tower and back on to the road again.