Practice makes... blisters!

 20 miles wouldn't normally be a problem but I wanted to see what it would be like to carry as much of my kit as possible for a whole days walking. My pack weighed about 16kg (2.5 stone) and changed the way I walked and balanced. I ended up with some pretty nasty blisters on my left foot and a very painful right shoulder - not sure why the diagonal line of pain from top to toe but there it is.

It was also a chance test out my boots, GPS, vac-packed food and a few other bits. The boots/sock combo was an epic fail and the weight of the pack was a problem. To remedy these issue's I've spend more time than is healthy on nerdy hiking websites reading about anti-chafe products and the science of blisters!

The little GPS worked a treat. I had plotted a route on ViewRanger and downloaded it to the device. I then followed it's little pointer to each waypoint and observed all the data it collated as I walked. Not essential when following a single national trail but good fun none the less 

All smiles! Exactly half way

Lunch and first aid

The rain stayed off and I had lots of glorious sunshine and an amazing rainbow a mile from home. lovely!

My route took me across the muddy tracks to the spring line where I sampled some refreshing spring water. My track then led me up through the woods at Barlavington down and across Duncton Hill to the South Downs Way. I followed the way across to Heyshot where I dropped down and followed the scarpfoot back to Duncton before heading north for home.

I learned recenlty that that hills I walked on today were not just steeped in neolithic history but the chalk it's self is unimaginably  ancient. It took 35 million years to create the chalk that zig-zags our country that's 1mm every 100 years!!!

The pain of the blisters by mile 20 was really starting to bite. I'd had a great time but could I have done this for 5 more days. We shall see!

Got Gear

I am now 40! As a result my very generous friends and family have given me lots of walking gear to make my South Downs Way walk possible in May. I now have a decent all season sleeping bag, self inflating roll mat, some meals, gas and even a fold up hat! A while ago my wife who spends a fare amount of time in charity shops, found this huge 70 litre rucksack for just £5!

I was also given some money so have bought some walking clothes and a new toy... a Garmin Etrex 10. This basic GPS device is used by many a walker and Geocacher and provides information about location, distance traveled, speed and can follow a plotted route telling me how far and how long until the next plotted way point which will of course be the campsites I will be staying at. I'm not sure if knowing how near or far I am to my destination each day and how long it will take will inspire me to keep going or make me want to phone for a taxi. We shall see!

I am planning a practice walk on Monday with all of my gear. This should give me an idea of how my dodgy knee and aging walking boots bear up after 20 miles

I'm aware that this is all very boring and nerdy but thinking and planning for this trip is doing a good job of taking my mind of some very stressful days at work.

“Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls."

Thought for food...

When planning a week long hike it becomes clear quite how much stuff I need and use everyday. Not least of this 'stuff' is that which sustains me. Food!

What should I take? What will keep fresh? What will give me the energy I'll need? How much will it weigh? How much space will it all take up??? Just some of the questions I've been considering.

I can't take bread, can't take milk and meat is off the menu so breakfast is the first problem. Tins and bottles are too heavy and lots of other food and drink is out of the question too like butter, fruit, beer sausages, sausage rolls, pork pies... basically all my favourites! 

So I've resigned myself to what amounts to freeze dried army rations to eat and tap water to drink. There are other options but these are the lightest and cheapest. I can add some dried fruit and nuts and I will get to a treat on day three as I'll get a fried breakfast before I leave the Moonlight tea room in Cocking. Having scoured the internet I've settled on a pack from Mountain House. 

 

Obviously the other think to consider is what I'll drink... water and how I'll carry it. As the meals are freeze dried I'll need to carry water to re-hydrate my lunch plus the gallon per day reccommended by those in the know.  Fortunately there are taps along the SDW footpath and obviously I can fill up at the camp sights so I should be ok. Here's my meal planner so far! What do you think?

	Breakfast	lunch	dinner
Sunday	Winchester cafe	Soup, flapjack, nuts, dried fruit	Spaghetti Bolognais
Monday	Scrambled Egg, Ham and Potato	Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice	Pasta Lasagne
Tuesday	Moonlight Cafe breakfast	Soup, flapjack, nuts, dried fruit	Chicken Korma with Rice
Wednesday	Smooth Oatmeal with Raspberry	Macaroni Cheese	Chicken Tikka with Ric
Thursday	Rice Pudding with Strawberry	Soup, flapjack, nuts, dried fruit	Chicken in Black Bean Sauce with Noodles,
Friday	Custard with Apple,	cafe	home!

The Kit...

Now that I've settled on the dates, booked some leave and booked some accommodation (see last post), my attention has turned to what kit I will strap to my back to sustain me  and what food I can take with me to keep me moving.

Here is my list so far what have I forgotten?

• Sleeping bag and mattress
• Tent, pegs, mallet
• A Swiss Army knife.
• A head torch. And spare + spare batteries
• Stove, gas and spare gas,
• Pans
• Ration pack from www.mountainhouse.eu/ 
• + Dried food. Cake, rice, pasta, muesli, noodles, dried fruit, nuts
• Pan, plate, mug, bowl and cutlery
• Food. We wayfarer packs + couscous
• Water carrier
• Loo roll and trowel
• map and GPS
• waterproofs
• Plasters and Vaseline
• 3 trousers. 3 shirts. 2 jumpers. 6 pants. 6 socks (no cotton!)
• Lenses. solution. & glasses
• Inhalers
• Soap. shave stuff
• Deodorant
• Coffee and coffee maker
• Phone and charger
• Lighter + spare
• Plasters. Vaseline. First aid kit
• Gaffa tape
• Whiskey
• Book!

The plan

On the 16th of March I will have been alive for 40 years. I'm keen to join in with the tradition of marking this in some way so a few months ago set about thinking of some event befitting this land mark.

I've always wanted to walk the entire South Downs Way so figured this is as good a time as any to tick that one off the bucket list.

Our "blunt, bow-headed, whale-backed Downs" have always been a dominant visual reference point for me and most days I crisscross them at some point. I'm also fascinated by their link back to our neolithic ancestors as well as the unique sense of peace and escape I've found when walking “the great hills of the South Country”.

I've walked sections of 'the way' and even stayed a night up there in a tent and carried on the next day. Great as this is I'm hoping for a fuller, deeper and more rewarding experience in walking the full 100 miles in 6 days.

An average of 16.6 miles per day, five over night stays and everything I need strapped to my back... or at least that's the plan!