Southern Weekend Activities - Canoe, bike, walk
its currently 27'c.. ideal for canoeing and walking.. so thats exactly what i did over the weekend.. paddled up to magic island on the thames friday night, loaded up the boat with cider, firewood and food.. great.. some things in life shouldnt be complicated really, so i pitched up at the island in time for an "al fresco" dinner and sunset.. i visited a pub in shiplake with fine brakspears ale.. once back at base camp, a tarp went over the side of the upturned canoe and i made a nest for myself under it.. the fire kept away the mossies and i was able to look out from the porch area, across the river and slowly watch the mist lift as dawn broke, the the birdsong grew to an almost deafening volume.. maybe it was the hangover that didnt help!
The folllowing morning on magic island I made a bacon sanwich on the stove and then packed to head back to civilisation, thru shiplake lock and back to the van parked in ferry lane.
After a quick turnaround i was on my way cycle the downs link cycleway. A 60km trail that crosses the north downs in surrey, the sussex weald and eventually the south downs leading to the coast.
Of course, it would be rude not to enjoy a pint in a local hostelry before starting the trip, it was now 3pm. So once enjoyed, I was off, heading south.. The miles seemed to come of the list very quickly, maybe it was just because i was used to walking rather than cycling these distances?
Part of the route is along the Wey and Arun canal using a disused railway track, popular with day trippers and dog walkers. Average speed 25km/h so yep, halfway came about 1.5 hours into the trip, stopping at southwater lake. This was to fill up with another 3 litres of water and cool down.
Why do always the last few miles take so long? By this time i was becoming quite saddle sore.. its been a long time since ive biked all day. The waymarkers showed that the south downs were only 8 miles away, and yep, they werent wrong, I could see the hills rise from the weald in the sunshine.. Once pass the Adur river I slowed the rate down to enjoy the last few miles and enjoy the sea air.. could that be a seagull calling? ;)
Once at the shore I celebrated outside a bar where inside a hen party was happening, wanted to steer clear of that one so i grabbed a pint of cider and cooled down on the beach. It was now 8pm.
What a day.. back in Brighton, back in sunny Sussex by bike!
and yesterday (sunday) i found a lovely little village pub that sold (and hopefully still does!) thatchers cider.. a real treat.. my legs were a little bit wobbly when i headed over the chilterns to fawley and then back along the thamespath.. hot, hot, hot!
posted by Fi and Jim @ Monday, June 07, 2004
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