Mad Dash Downs

From the sublime to the ridiculous.
The next day after breakfast in Steyning we started up a very steep hill onto the Downs (where is boring when you want it?) Of course I got off and walked, even Richard succumbed.
The plan was to cycle to my house 42miles West. I was already aching and my bum sore before we even set off.

We met a couple of walkers coming the other way and stopped for a chat, they told us we had just come up one of the toughest climbs along the whole route (hoorah)and we would be doing another soon. (Very encouraging, not!)
By comparison this was a whole different ride experience from the day before, off road, hilly, beautiful scenery and at times very slow going.

I got braver on the down hills as the ride went on. I’ve been nervous since I fell off two years ago, cracking ribs and smashing a tooth!

One of the big differences in this ride compared to the route two years ago was the amount of people walking or riding. Of course it was a weekend but, I suspect Covid 19 has had a part to play with people out and about enjoying the great outdoors!
We were overtaken by walkers on some of the climbs where we had to push the bikes which is very disheartening, particularly if you stop for lunch and they overtake you again!

I enjoyed the first part of the ride but it took hours. We stopped for icream near Cocking where there is a farm shop on the route that we rememberd from the first trip. There we got chatting to a man who was cycling on to Wichester another 20 odd miles from where we were due to stop, bonkers!

Richard had to double back once as he’d dropped a pot of honey he’d purchased on the trail ( he didn’t find it and no he’s nothing like Pooh Bear!)
You don’t see many women my age cycling off road, there are not that many women per se, I wonder why?
We came off the downs early, short of South Harting, I dont think my bum or legs could cope with more rough track and too many more steep climbs.
We made it home blistered, exhausted and somwhat grumpy but, we did it!!!!