Ambling Around Amberley - CP4 to CP5

Wednesday 4th July

Although it was Independence Day half of Vale Venturers decided to depend on our Support Crew for our last training walk on the South Downs before the big day.  Lynda was our driver and Emma her trusty navigator as we left after school drop off.  Barney, Pebbles, Yoshi and Sid formed the rearguard on 4 legs!!

Sid takes the words Amberley Mount a bit too literally!

The weather was definitely not in our favour.  We found the checkpoint and waved goodbye to the girls (muttering about them being able to find a nice cosy tea rooms or better still a pub whilst we plodded through the mud with 4 mad, randy hounds in tow!).

The section down by the River Arun is MUDDY! Leeches were happily swimming in the shallows on the path.  Both Sue and Sandra found it very difficult to get into our stride especially as the dogs had to be on leads for quite a while.

Heading for the clouds!

Eventually we reached the bottom of Amberley Mount. Its is pretty steep but nothing on the scale of Beacon Hill! We are sure the views from the top are breathtaking on a clear day. Unfortunately this wasn't a clear day! The top was shrouded in mist and we could barely see 50 yards ahead.  Sue was trying out her new trail shoes and detected a "hotspot" on her heel.  A Compeed and chocolate stop was deemed necessary and we both perked up considerably! Emma texted some brain teasers to keep us occupied (for about a minute- come on Emma we need something for the other 23 hours and 59 minutes!!!).

A lone horse rider loomed out of the murk - very Jane Eyre in style but not a dark, handsome Mr Rochester unfortunately! A few kms further on we met two fellow hikers, one of whom was wearing very revealing wet, flesh coloured shorts!!! After walking a few metres past them we both collapsed into giggles. More Mr Bean than Mr R!

Heading downhill towards the checkpoint we met Lynda and Emma coming to meet us! They had checked out the locality and had found a fish and chip shop! Chip shops are a requirement of Vale Venturers! We reached the car near Checkpoint 5 very muddy and wet. After a lot more giggles about the man in pants and Sid's amorous behaviour we got changed (changing towel nil points) and headed for some chips and Sue's homemade soup!

Just like a real checkpoint!

Last day of training on the trail. Rubbish weather, path pretty awful but spirits are high and support crew are wonderful.  We can't wait for the big event! http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=valeventurers&isTeam=true

Wild strawberries, wild orchids and tanned bottoms

Wild strawberries

Sunday 1^st July 2012 and 3 out of 4 of the Vale Venturers Team set off for their final training walk prior to the “Big Event”.  About 5 minutes before our scheduled departure time, the heavens opened, meaning that we headed off along the side of the ranges in full waterproofs, two dogs in tow.  En route, we came across some wild strawberries and orchids, which were beautiful.

We reached the lake and then continued following the side of the ranges, with Sue (navigational expert) claiming that she was sure we could turn right towards Pirbright and then skirt back towards a farm we have previously passed.   

Checking the map (again!)

 A quick map-check later, we took the correct path (albeit rather boggy) and worked our way back towards the lake.  The weather couldn’t seem to make its mind up, and it kept raining, stopping, raining, stopping….!  And we kept donning our waterproofs, stripping off…donning our waterproofs, stripping off…luckily there were no soldiers around to witness these stripteases!  We have decided that a fake tan may be necessary before we tackle the actual trail in 2 weeks’ time!

Henley Park Lake

Eventually, several map checks later, we arrived at the lake for our lunch stop.  Minestrone soup, tuna sandwiches, sour cream and onion crisps and cashew nuts provided well needed sustenance, before we began the trek home.  The lake itself was beautiful, with water lilies in bud.  Barney even went for his first ever swim (pushed in by Pebbles) and we all got drenched when the dogs decided to shake off excess water all over us!  Thanks dogs!

Ready for the challenge!

The walk home was good-humoured, discussing the relative merits of Ann Summers parties (!) and we were pleased to have covered almost twelve miles in 3 hours 22, despite the intermittent rain, one dodgy foot and two overly energetic dogs (excluding stops!)  Go Vale Venturers!!!