Although I’d left it quite late with the planning of my accommodation along the South Downs Way (we’re talking about making initial enquiries only two-to-three weeks in advance…), I thought I had everything sorted and that I would be able to follow my daily itinerary as planned.
On that first evening, however, my laid-out hopes began to unravel… Continue reading “My First Wild Camp (SDW: Night One)”
Suddenly, the time had arrived. Not even since I began or completed The Ridgeway, I was to being following the South Downs Way National Trail. After a bit of deliberation and some suggestions from others I know who’ve walked this way; I decided to begin in the west at Winchester, to finish one-hundred miles on in Eastbourne, five-days later.
By this time next week, I intend to be more than halfway along in my hundred-mile trek following the South Downs Way. I find it surreal and a little bit scary to think that, come this weekend, I won’t be home for several days… Each twenty-four hour period may prove to be a challenge; but also, somehow rewarding.
There is a temptation and desire within me (although not great in size) to just take the week off and do nothing… I often yearn for a break from the daily grind. But my plans are in place. I have committed to facing this long walk and my finalised plans differ slightly from my previous itinerary.
Seven-days before ahead of the start of my South Downs Way journey, I loaded up my new fifty litre rucksack and heading up in to the Mendip Hills for a day walk. This would be my first outing with the Montane Yupik 50. An opportunity to see it it really fits and how comfortable I would be, carrying my current load. Continue reading “First Walk with the Montane Yupik 50”
Walks With Olly 