I caught a train from Portsmouth to Rye on Tuesday, 3.5 hour journey but only £10.50. On route I decided to get off at Winchelsea and walk to Rye. It was a beautiful day, sunny, warm and no wind. I had planned to walk across a footpath that's shown on my map. I had a look around Winchealsea, very nice, but it had the air of being too respectable for me, I imagined a Mrs Bouquet in every house! The village pub was nice though and they sold coffee and cake, which is what I chose.
I found the foot path, only to discover that it had been ploughed over and the edges of the field were covered with clods of earth and grass. I decided to not bother and so walked back to Winchelsea station and carried on across the tracks and up the road to a T juction. I turned right which was the 1066 route into Rye. It was a very nice stroll, flat areas to my right which would have been underwater in the olden days, there were sloping banks to my left and the footpath I was on was, I think, used to be the beach line.
I organised cash in Rye and then decided to hike on to Peasemarsh to a pub which is a camp/caravan area as well. I strolled past and then through an orchard, lovely red apples and I scrumped a few. Couldn't help myself, no will power. Delicious!
I arrived at the pub just before dusk, I was in no hurry, I popped in to ask how much for a one man tent for a night. £17.50 said the lady behind the counter. I took in a sharp intake of breath and said No, just too much! She shrugged her shoulders in a take it or leave it kind of way so I left and explored a couple of fields behind the pub and easily found a good spot!
I went back to the pub, by now it was dark but with a full moon. I had a couple of pints and ordered a meal. When did we as a nation take to the idea that all meals have to be bulked up with a salad? I had one small tomato, two slices of cucumber and a wadge of iceberg lettuce covered in Salad Cream, yes Salad Cream, to my taste buds truly yucky!
The meal wasn't that nice but I decided to not make an issue about it, I was very hungry anyway. I left there at 9.15pm, came out of the pub, turned left on the road and within 200yds I walked into a large supermarket (which I had walked through earlier) and a petrol station car park set back from the main road. Sometimes things can look very different in the dark! To my left, just before the stile into the field I had chosen earlier to pitch my Bivvi, I noticed a half a tennis court size piece of mown grass with a few smalls trees plus one large tree. Plus a 2' wall that separated the area from the parking bays.
Perfect, I hadn't really noticed it at dusk, but I then realised that no one could see me so I just pitched my Bivvi alongside the wall. I slept, wasn't disturbed and was out of my Bivvi at 6.45am. Once packed I just strolled over to the supermarket, it opened at 7 and had breakfast in there cafe. I strolled off at 7.45am to another glorious day, the daylight was so clear, reminded me of the South of France light! I walked through fields, woods, up and over small hills and through a couple of villages, loads of sheep and a few cattle. For me a perfect hiking day! The best view was being able to look down on Bodium Castle, it looked spectacular in the sunshine.
I walked into Bodium village about 1.00pm and went into the pub for a glass of tonic, my fave when I'm walking. In front of me was a little old man and his wife. He wanted bitter and insisted he had to try a sip or two of all of them on display, The barmaid duly obliged. He supped away then said to her, "two halves of this one please" His wife didn't choose, he chose for her. The barmaid slightly smiled, or was it a grimace?
During the afternoon I strolled on to Hawkhurst, managed to talk to someone in the pub who let me camp on his front lawn. I offered him money but he wouldn't take it but I did manage to buy him a pint. A very nice offer because up until that moment I had no idea where I was going to camp. The next morning I was away just after dawn, walked a bit more during the morning then made my way to a main road and hithiked into Tunbridge Wells, caught a train, four actually and thenarrived home early this evening. My fare was £10.55, not bad!A short outing but I really enjoyed it, the section of the route that I walked was really good, scenic and varied. Totally recommend it to anyone!