It appears my 3 month enforced walking sabbatical after injuring my Achilles tendon on Offa's Dyke is over (touch wood). I've managed 3 or 4 short walks over the last couple of weeks, and all seems quite normal again.
After checking the weather forecast for the day (2% chance of rain), I drove to West Meon near the western end of the South Downs. After parking in the village I set off heading south along the old railway bed towards Exton.
Not even 5 minutes into the walk it started to rain. Never mind, it can only be a shower. Due to the forecast I hadn't brought full waterproofs with me, so I popped on my windproof smock. The shower only lasted about 5 minutes and the sun soon got me dry. I came off the railway bed and headed towards Old Winchester Hill, with dark clouds looming.
I joined the South Downs Way and started the climb up to Old Winchester Hill. Looking back more dark clouds where following me.
As soon as I reached the top of the hill that dark cloud dumped its contents on me. It came down in sheets for about 10 minutes. No chance of any photo's from here so I made haste towards the visitors car park, crossed over the road and continued along the SDW on a path that had almost turned into a stream.
On the bright side, the sun was shining again as I headed towards Meon Springs fly fishery.
I stopped at the fishery and ate my lunch at a picnic bench in front of the pavillion. While I was there a guy pulled in what looked like a decent sized trout. I spoke to another guy who was doing the SDW. He told me he'd set off from Winchester this morning and was heading for Amberley, a distance of about 45 miles. I dismissed this as utter [censored], until I turned around and saw him getting on his bike
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I was now completely dry again after the recent downpour.
Continuing on the SDW I walked up a dead straight concrete track until I reached Hen Wood.
Here I left the SDW and walked north along the eastern fringe of Hen Wood.
I took a footpath to the left into Hen Wood, but shortly afterwards I took a wrong turning and went deeper into the wood than I'd intended. Viewranger soon got me back on course though, and took me on a pleasant stroll through Chappetts Copse, and then to the quiet lane that leads back into West Meon.
As I was walking along this lane, another large black cloud emptied itself on me, and I was saturated again. I had a few funny looks from the late lunchtime diners in the Thomas Lord pub (the founder of Lords cricket ground apparently) as I dripped through to the bar
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Considering I got soaked 3 times I really enjoyed todays walk, and it's one I'll definitely do again sometime.
2% chance of rain eh!!!