Miles walked: 15.6

Elevation gained: 2,250 ft.

Accommodations: Bramble Barn

Our itinerary from Mickledore listed today as eleven miles, but we usually have to add up to 1–1½  miles for going to and from our accommodations; I figured today might be as long as 13½ miles. Sometimes two extra miles can feel sooo long!

We left our B&B at the usual 9 o’clock time with an alternate route back to the trail rather than retracing our steps from yesterday. It was another lovely morning. The forecast was for rain but not until three o’clock. David was feeling good and said he was feeling better with every step.

Once back up on the downs, the path was good—wide, smooth, and grass to walk on as well. But of course, it was relentless up and down. As the day wore on, we began to see more and more people. After lunch, a group of about 20 men and women came up behind us chattering loudly. We paused to let them go by, but then we kept coming up behind them. At one point, they stopped to open champagne; they were celebrating one of the women’s fortieth birthday. I was glad when our trail turned and they kept going straight.

After that turn, we met very few people. There was one couple from the Lake District that stopped to talk. It is interesting to hear the comments when people realize we are American.   This couple mentioned Katy Perry and what a waste of money. Other people have mentioned Trump. More than one have said that none of the Americans that come over here are Trump supporters, and they realize it is the leader(s) creating chaos. More than one have also used the word crazy. Mostly I have tried to tune out the news.

The wind blew most of the day. It was strong at times but not nearly as fierce as that one day. The skies started clouding up around 1:30 and at 3:00, it started to sprinkle. We put on our raincoats, but it wasn’t what I’d call rain. It lasted until we got to Kingston, but it was never unpleasant.

While the rain was not unpleasant, the same cannot be said for the trail! By four o’clock we all were getting tired. The hills just never seemed to stop, but I was so happy when we finally crossed our last hill and left the way because it would be all downhill from there. But what a downhill it was! Extremely steep, narrow-rutted, and so rocky! I heard Nancy telling David not to go stepping on any ball bearings.

Mickledore booked a taxi to take us from Kingston to Lewes, a much larger town with more accommodations. We were to meet it at four, but Nancy called early in the day to push it back to 4:30. She called again when it was obvious we wouldn’t be there then either. We met it at five, so glad to be finished with the day. On that last stretch, I decided that there was no way I am going back up that trail in the morning! I made that pronouncement, and the taxi driver said he often picks people up where we were but takes them to Southease in the morning. I think we deserve a shorter day before our hard last day!

• To Moreton-in-Marsh, April 29
• To Chipping Camden, April 28
• To Stanton, April 27
• To Winchcombe, April 26
• To Guiting Power, April 25
• To Bourton-on-the-Water, April 24
• To Stow-on-the-Wold, April 23
• A Rest Day and a Train Trip to Remember, April 21-22
• To Eastbourne, April 20
• To Alfriston, April 19
• To Kingston/Lewes, April 18
• To Poynings, April 17
• To Bramber/Upper Beeding, April 16
• Rest Day in Amberley
• To Amberley, April 14
• To Cocking, April 13
• To Buriton, April 12
• To Meonstoke, April 11
• Winchester, April 10
• Winchester, April 9
• To Winchester, April 7-8