New Valley Hills

Last night was coolest so far, down to 12C. My quilt is rated for comfort down to 2C meaning I was comfortable under it in my 15 year old North Face thermals. I favour a quilt to a sleeping bag as I’m a starfish, Superman, Rotisserie sleeper. A bag gets twisted around me as I wriggle so much.

The quilt has a closable foot box plus straps to keep it sliding off. If it had been cooler or there was a breeze I’d have deployed those.

Maybe the fab supper in the local pub helped keep me warm.

Chesil Beach weighs 100 million tonnes. That has no bearing to how difficult it is to walk on.

This part of the coast has always had my heart.

I scurried past this with my heart in my mouth.

Brunch at Cherries Cafe on the quayside at West Bay.

I raced up Thorncombe Beacon and came down to Seatown bursting with life. Of the known sections this bit is up there as one of my favourites. A blackcurrant ripple ice cream to spur me up Golden Cap. Last time I fastpacked it in 28 minutes. How fast am I this time with a thruhike backpack? 26 minutes and 7 seconds. Yess!

Today has the best visibility to date, just right for being on the highest point on the entire south coast.

Last four days I’m averaging over 24km. I think I’m getting into the swing of things. Once I’m averaging 32km that’ll be my cruising speed.

Tomorrow is Beer.