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
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!
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