After a (relatively) gentle hoon-about around North London a couple of weekends back, we took to the somewhat more challenging terrain of the South Downs the following day, pushing off from the picturesque environs of Lewisham station and gradually leaving the urban smokiness for dust. Through Mottingham, Chiselhurst and around the bulging belly of Bromley - and out into the green hills.
Four intrepid travellers this time - myself, Dom, Jonny and Brian - muscles rippling, pecks bulging, stomachs growling. And what a route! - picked out by map-man-in-chief, Brian. It really hits home on days like this just how lucky we are (particularly those of us down in South London) to be within easy distance of all this fresh air and green and pleasant land. A beautifully rolling, long road called Pilgrim's Way was the definite highlight: banks of fields on either side, hardly a car in sight and a view of the Downs stretching out in all directions around us.
Man, there were some hills, too: one in particular (Sunbridge Hill? - see photos for immediate post-Sunbridge shots) appeared out of nowhere, hidden behind hedges and a sharp left turn. A bona fide thigh-trembler. But, you know, I would have openly sank to my knees and wept at the sight of it a few months ago - and now it's just another monster to tick off the list.
A quick postscript: great meeting in the glittering offices of Cancer Research last night, kindly organised by Fiz, our wonderful CR representative. Many, many hills to climb before we set off next month (yup, thanks Dan for pointing out that it's actually next month), but you know what? We've got the legs for it.
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