North Downs Way Day zero. Farnham

It’s been a really brilliant summer. David and I have travelled widely, had many adventures, holidayed in the sunshine with our wider family, started an exciting new project in Kent and discovered that we’re OK at medium distance cycling. I’ve also rediscovered running, spent a lot of happy time developing new friendships and deepening old ones, had a long break from the choirs and then really enjoyed getting back to them this term. Life has been rich, satisfying and full. And I am in a much better and much happier place than I was when I walked the South Downs Way. But I’ve missed the long walks with their sense of mystery and excitement, the challenge and the freedom, the isolation and the companionship.

So very much at the last minute, I’ve carved out a little time to do the beginning of the North Downs Way. Which seemed an appropriately bookend walk to choose. In total the trail runs from Farnham to Dover, taking 130 miles. I start from Farnham tomorrow and will walk for 3 days, with the hope that I might then be able to pick up at least some of the rest of it before winter sets in. And as the writing has always been as much of the experience for me as the walking, I’ll be blogging again. Hopefully my lovely loyal readers will come along with me, through areas of outstanding natural beauty, along a chalk ridge that takes in little towns, ancient sites, and (at least as far as I can see for tomorrow’s route) quite a few motorways… My rucksack is ready, my thermos is awaiting its tea. I can’t wait.