Burgess Hill to Findon (29km)

I’ve been avoiding saying too much about walking (my version of) the Camino Santiago de Compostela. Mainly as it seems a bit unachievable and as such I’ve been ignoring it. Denial always works!! In the background I’ve been thinking about it, looking at routes and amassing appropriate gear (although with the first 30km under my belt I’m doubting my planning – it all seems rather heavy despite the fact I seem to have forgotten some important things).

Anyway, some background.  I’ve been intrigued by the Camino for some time. Probably from when I’ve seen the traditional shell markers as far a field as Austria, Slovenia, France (Vosge mountains) and obviously in Spain. Last year I walked five consecutive days on the Greenwich Meridian Trail and it was really therapeutic. I’ve read some books, and a long distance walk with plenty of services, low cost accommodation and food along the way sounds perfect. I then read some more, and it sounds like the main route (Camino Frances) is really busy from St Jean Pied De Port in the Pyrenees with upto 200,000 pilgrims walking it each year according to the official statistics.

After further research, I found that there are lots of different caminos, all heading to Santiago. So I created a route taking in the best of them, including crossing the Picos de Europe. A few days on each and finishing the walk into Santiago de Compostela on the Camino de Invierno (The Winter Way). [In 2018 – 705 pilgrims vs 186,000 on the Frances]. The downside is there is less accommodation, so i need to be prepared to rough it a bit. I also decided that I should start from my own front door, which is how the trails have traditionally developed from all across Europe. However, I don’t have the time to walk all the way down France, so a ferry to Northern Spain should give a target of one month walking and the plan is sorted.

I don’t intend to blog every day – but I think I always say that! The first day didn’t start too well, with some last minute work to finish off, and generally faffing around packing. Also, the thought of the scale of the walk is quite daunting which doesn’t help. Anyway I got away by noon, and Liz walked with me for the first few kms. I left her as I walked across the very wet and squidgy paths towards Hurstpierpoint College. I just need to get my head down and walk! After 10km, I had the thought that I had covered the first 1%, which somehow helped. I was heading to the South Downs Way and the YHA on the top of Truleigh Hill. Not to stay, but it seemed like the best chance to get a stamp in my “Pilgrim Passport”. It did have a stamp, and a coffee and Walnut cake.

It had seemed hard work on the muddy ordinary footpaths and a hard climb up onto the Downs, but once I got onto the South Downs Way it seemed I had more purpose. From Truleigh Hill it was down into Steyning, before picking up the Monarchs Trail. The Monarchs Trail took me to Findon for my (only) pre-booked accommodation. I made it just before dark, it was lucky that the clocks had just changed at the weekend.

A burger and a couple of pints of Long Man and I’m feeling more optimistic about the walk. As long as I can move in the morning.