Ramble II - South Downs Way
Bannister - Jan 2016
This was the first ramble to introduce pub stops and, therefore, rambling in pitch darkness while half-cut. The ramble was characterised by the one-off appearance by Ian 'Doggy' Dawson, who mistook a WhatsApp pub stop picture for the end of the walk and flew down the A27 in his going-out attire to meet us for drinks, only to be told we were less than a third of the way along the route over the seven sisters.
Worth remembering:
Worth remembering:
- Dawson's 'tree emergency' excuse on the wet and miserable morning of the ramble
- Dawson's rush to meet us for a beer and subsequent devastation at the news we had barely begun the walk
- Bannister's year of the slicks meant it was all the more surprising to see Harrington unbalanced by his huge head to be first man down
- The Tiger Inn nearly resulted in the first abandoned ramble
- The extended stop in the final pub on day 1 to watch the rugby and the subsequent walk along the boggy riverside with rubbish torches and low batteries
- Ye Olde Summglers Inn in Alfriston. Slanted, crooked rooms but friendly bar staff and mini-lock-in.