SDW: Cocking to Amberley

 

Another day of perfect weather. Breakfast cooked by the lovely Cindy, while chatting to her and Trevor - lovely couple. He grew up in Southgate, went to Ashmole school.

Bus back to Cocking and then a pretty easy walk with not too much ascent or mud. Chalk tracks. About halfway through, the view opened up and I could see the sea gleaming away to my right. Chatted a bit to a lady and her little terrier, and she pointed out a pair of beautiful birds of prey who were gliding around as a team. 

First sight of the sea

Field covered in chalk

Muddiest bit was just before Cocking,
which sits in a flood plain

The river just before Amberley

I didn’t stop much, and was at Amberley by 2.30, only to find that there were no trains throughout the whole region because of a broken bit of track. No buses running anywhere today from Amberley either, so I had no choice but to get a taxi back to Chichester. Had to listen to the guy moaning about politics and how he didn’t have a pension and still had to drive a taxi at 71, and dodged the income tax on all his cash fares. 

I was back at the Airbnb by about 3, so had a shower and then went back out to look around the town. It doesn’t take long at all for the legs to recover. Quite a few shops for the affluent, and an Ivy restaurant. Saw a few extremely expensively and tastefully dressed older ladies. Had a look inside the cathedral. Was surprised to hear seagulls but then reflected that Chichester’s on a river that goes to the sea. Didn’t see the theatre but it must be there somewhere. Lots of lovely buildings. 

Got some dal from M&S for my dinner and was ensconced by 6pm. Had a long, cosy evening reading my book for book group (which is rubbish) and plotting a possible walking route for doing Cotswold Way in a week. I’ve basically got to take a week’s holiday by the end of March or I’ll lose it. There are worse problems to have.

Looks as though the trains are OK again now, with the disruption specially timed to inconvenience me. So, fingers crossed for tomorrow. 9.30 train to Amberley, then a walk of similar length to today. Should be there by 2-2.30. Then a slightly convoluted journey home involving buses, trains and tube.  Slept really well last night but was woken by the noise of the boiler at 7am. Hope I don’t wake up too early tomorrow as I won’t be having brekkie till 8.30.