By Amy Turner
I have always enjoyed camping and fancy that I am at heart a bit of a nomad. So, when Vicky my sister said she wanted to go walking on the south downs way and could we go the following week, I jumped at the opportunity!
Our trip is controversial to say the least. Is wild camping illegal? Certainly the homeless on Hastings seafront were doing it, however they have no other choice, while me and Vicky have a nice house we can go back to, surely our trip into the wilderness just as lockdown is easing, is less risky than the political advisor Dominic Cummings driving round the country during the peak of the corona virus, who did not get prosecuted!!
We justify our trip by carrying hand sanitiser, wearing masks when need be, staying outside at all times and telling ourselves it is good for our health, which without doubt it is.
I was unfortunate as my period was just beginning when we started out on the trip. I knew it was going to be heavy as it always was, and I wondered if I could cope with the bloody onslaught, however I was concerned that I may not have another chance to be able to do the trip with Vicky as she said she may be going back to work soon.
Anyhow we set out on a Wednesday morning. We woke up early and had some nice chocolate croissants for breakfast. Croissants are great for the morning when you are wild camping as they are still tasty cold, are packed with calories and are something good to look forward to at the beginning of the day, even if the weather is unbearably dingy.
Vicky drove us to Eastbourne where we began our journey. We started over beachy head and the seven sisters, these are white cliffs on the coast of East Sussex between Eastbourne and Seaford.
It was unbelievably beautiful and there were some great photography opportunities! The sun was out and was shining down on us, we were excited and enthusiastic to begin our journey.
Climbing the seven sisters was the hardest part. It was seven steep and rolling hills in quick succession. We made slow progress as our massive rucksacks weighed us down.
With the sun bearing down on us we were drinking more than usual, and the heat raised concerns that we might not be able to find enough fresh water. Fortunately, this worry was soon alleviated, there were water taps along the way, and my mother had previously told us a technique for getting fresh water out of water troughs, which was particularly useful.
On the first day I noticed I was peeing a lot, maybe the excessive exercise was detoxing my body, who knows. The trouble with this is that the south down has little tree cover and at times, is busy, so you must whip your knickers up and down pretty fast.
James on this trip was wearing black skinny jeans, and he was finding wearing them unbearable in the heat. We rectified this by giving him my shorts which were purple, pink and flowery. James was a little embarrassed but also relieved not to be wearing his jeans anymore. I think he looked quite cool, but judge for yourself in the image below.
We got up to the hill above Cuckmere haven and had our picnic which consisted of a baguette a large salami, cheese and dried fruit and nuts that we had purchased from Lidl. We made a stop in Alfriston where we purchased some homemade quiches, ice cream and refilled out water bottles. Here we rested in a park for an hour or so before continuing our journey.
Eventually after walking for many hours we made it to Southease station so James could return for his work.
While waiting for a train we sat down in a field and got out the remainder of our food to eat. We noticed there were cows in the same field, but they were so far away we assumed they would not notice us.
We gobbled away at our food as we were very hungry after our 16-mile trek.After about ten minutes Vicky exclaimed that the cows were running towards us and as I turned round, I observed that, indeed they were.
We hurriedly packed up our things and me and James ran towards the gate, fearful that the cows were going to attack us. Vicky turned around and shouted and clapped her hands, which worked very well, and they took a step back from us. We managed to scramble over the gate before they could wrestle us for our food. Relieved, and out of the danger of the field, we turned around and observed that the cows were still watching us with their heads through the gate.
Soon James’s train came, and we bid him goodbye. Now it was only me and Vicky and we had to find somewhere safe to camp.
We found a field, a damp field full of slugs and mosquitoes, it was not the best place, but it was the only place available and it was getting dark.
I had to wee outside again in the dark and while sorting out my period sanitary items I could hear mosquitoes circling me. I felt very vulnerable in this damp mosquito ridden dark field with my derriere out, hoping my period was not going to attract more of them. Fortunately, I was lucky that night did not get bitten by any of them.
The first night I slept okay for camping. We were camped next to the rail station and the sound of the train was very reassuring, though the sound of many bugs repeatedly dropping on the outside of the tent was rather creepy. I had to keep telling myself they could not access the tent.
The second day, we awoke to the drip drop of rain falling on the tent, we felt scared someone would find us as we were next to a house. We had not choice but to pack up our wet tent in the rain.
Our plan now was to walk along the river Ouse into Lewes and then walk from Lewes up to the south downs. The rain was pelting down though, we got very wet and by the time we got to Lewes we discovered our sleeping bags were soaked through. We decided then and there that we would return home, dry our stuff and go back out tomorrow from where we left off but with our equipment wrapped in plastic bags to keep it dry.
We did indeed the next day, set off, from the place we left which was Glynde. We walked to Pyecombe, we sang many great songs throughout the day to keep us going, had plenty to eat then camped in a barley field.
On the third day we walked over Devil’s Dyke. Here it was terribly busy and there were many walkers and cyclist everywhere. We passed Brighton and walked down to Shoreham-by-sea. we were relieved to obtain coffee and pizza.
When you have been deprived of hot food and drinks for a couple of days and you have them it is truly an amazing experience to taste them again. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
We also went for a dip in the sea which was a relief for my tired and achy muscles and really rejuvenated us. Check out those great tan lines!
Continuing our journey, we walked along the river for a while, then walked all the way up a massive hill back onto the south down’s way. We thought about camping up on top of the down’s, but it was too windy and too near the public footpaths. we had to walk down and onto the flat fields below us to set up camp.
I really needed to go for a dump at this point. I went into some woods that were nearby, in order to be more environmentally friendly doc leaves sufficed as toilet paper, I recommend them if you are caught in the situation! I had to wash my hands with bottled water and antiseptic gel afterwards. It was okay but not the most pleasant of experiences.
Afterwards Vicky handed me a sandwich which was not great as we had just gone to a convenience store and bought very poor-quality food. The image of my recent toileting activities also kept entering my mind and it was hard to eat the cheese and salami roll, but I did force it down.
Vicky kept telling me to stop moaning about my period, but I continued to moan as she is funny when she tells me off.
On the fourth day we decided we would not walk up on the downs as it was very wet and windy, we packed up our tent and we walked across the flat fields. It was pouring with rain but was not unpleasant.
We both got wet feet from walking in the long-wet grass and we had vile white small worms stuck to our legs sucking our blood which we quickly brushed off.
The rain eventually subsided, and the sun finally peaked out of the sky, but our feet were still very soggy and the ground sodden, little did we know this was only the beginning of the calamities which were to come.
We walked into one field and there was a group of horses, the horses were friendly and we stroked them, at this point were calm but their mood changed dramatically in the space of a few seconds and they started bucking and catering around us.
I froze, I was surrounded by these massive horses and was concerned one of them was going to kick me or knock me over. I was trapped behind them and could not exit the field, I did not dare run or shout at them either, I did not know whether they would be aggressive towards me. Eventually they dispersed and I was able to walk towards Vicky, though they were still cantering besides us. Vicky and I had no alternative but to calmly walk out of the field in the hope that they would not run into us.
It was a rather harrowing experience to say the least.
The next ordeal was right around the corner. The footpath was supposed to go over a dual carriageway. I told Vicky we should try and cross but she refused and I agreed with her that actually it was impossible to cross even if we wanted to as there were to many cars and they were going too fast.
We had to walk back up the road and thankfully not far up the road we came to an underpass which we went under, which was followed by a steep hill.
On ascending the hill, we were suddenly struck with great tiredness and hunger after our ordeals and so we sat down and ate some cheese and dried fruit. Once we had had some food and rest, we recovered our spirits and set back off again.
At around two we arrived at Hassocks, a town, and sat in a park. By this time, my feet were incredibly painful and ached. I have high arched feet making them prone to aches and pain.
I had to have special insoles in my shoes when I was a kid. My new walking boots had also made my feet blister, I’d cover the blister up with a blister plaster then a new one would appear below the covered blister, so I had blisters from the top of my heel right down to the bottom and onto the sole of my right foot as well as few on my toes on the top of my feet. In the park I kicked my shoes off and did some stretches which temporarily relieved the tension in my feet.
We enjoyed a big picnic in the park, then set off again and I hobbled along, the pain in my feet very unbearable but still I continued. It was a relief when we finally got to Plumpton station, got on the train and went home. Once back we rewarded ourselves with a takeaway curry, ice cream and a nice shower.
On reflection though at times the trip had been discomfit and at times dangerous I had been very happy while on it and the security and safety of home does not make up for the feelings of liberty when you carry your house on your back and you camp and go anywhere you want!