Another walk of two halves in lovely weather
Today would be a walk of two halves, the first being a rather pleasant walk to Upper Beeding after the initial trail back up to the Way from Washington and the second half feeling more like a roller coaster before eventually reaching the campsite in Keymer.
I woke up about 4am freezing, so cold I could blow smoke but even putting on more layers didn't really help much and I didn't really get back to sleep so I was up and away just after 8am in bright sunshine and blue skies but bitterly cold. The first part back on the way would be a steep track and road, this warmed me up and once at the top, the path levelled out and the views were fantastic looking over to the sea and Worthing and Brighton in the distance, much clearer than the hazy day before.
It was a very pleasant walk for miles, the kind of walk where you look at your watch and time has passed so quickly and about 3 hours from the start I was heading into Upper Beeding to go to the shop and have a rest in a nearby park, there is a pavement from leaving the Way all the way to the village. I initially wasn't sure if I'd go into the village or not but it was not far from the Way and also not much of a hill down to the village.
After the break I returned to the Way and soon headed up a steep track which seemed never ending and punished my legs, it turned into a road and not as steep but I still struggled. It reached the youth hostel at Truleigh Bridge and then became a track once again and a roller coaster with good views eventually reaching Devils Dyke, this part going through cattle and day tourists who had parked at the pub.
From here, the roller coaster continued as I headed down and over the bridge over the A29 and headed uphill once more through a golf course on a never ending track before turning towards a windmill just before my turn off for Keymer which I could see down below meaning the start of tomorrow will be another steep one.
The campsite is a huge field and only a few tents in it so peace and quiet to relax and recover but also had some cooking facilities as well as a nice shower block. I walked into the village and got some food and the chip shop then back to the tent to relax and put on more layers to try and prepare for another promised chilly night and not a good sleep. In my mind though, I knew there was only two more days left to walk and this would be my last night of camping as I was staying in a hotel in Alfriston the next night which would feel like luxury.
