It’s traditional that each year I do the TGO Challenge, I do a warm-up or preparation trip – sometimes more than one – in the lead-up to the main event. This is an opportunity to see where I’m at physically, try out gear and help make the decisions as to what to take, and simply just to get myself in the right frame of mind for the big trip.
Each one of these preparation trips is different, and I get different things from them each year – and I often won’t really understand what I’m getting from one until it’s done. This year’s was a case in point.
Day 1: Eastbourne to Alfriston
I arrived in Eastbourne soon after 11am, faffed around for a bit then headed for the seafront and an early lunch.
A walk along the promenade and then a stiff climb up got me to the official start/end of the South Downs Way. Not that it mattered especially for this trip, as I wasn’t going all the way anyway.
Last time I was here was in March 2022 and I’d just finished, walking the classic route/direction from Winchester over the Seven Sisters. But this time, I’d be walking the inland Jevington route, as I’d not done that before (except for a small chunk that coincides with the Wealdway).
More climbing over grass and then undulating following parallel to a main road, brought me to the first dew pond of the trip. I like seeing these, they remind me I’m on chalk downs.
Pretty easy walking, but I saw I’d soon have a descent into Jevington, and then need to regain all that lost height again.
I took a few minutes rest stop at Jevington, steeling myself for the climb – I still wasn’t 100% after being ill for several days. As I came over Wilmington Hill, the rain started and I rushed to put on waterproofs.
The worst part of the day’s walk was the descent to Alfriston – a long slow drop down wet chalk paths that I took extra care on.
I dropped into the local shop for a few things, then headed to the campsite. On arrival I was informed there was no drinking water at the moment. I chatted for a bit to a couple who were walking the Way in the other direction before retiring to my tent for the night…
Day 2: Alfriston to the A27
…and a windy night it was too. At the campsite I couldn’t have both shelter and a flat pitch, and it should be obvious from the picture that I went for the flat pitch. The wind kept me awake, along with some heavy rain. I felt pretty terrible in the morning – tired, lethargic, headachy, stomachachy, so I decided to keep the distance modest for the day, and booked my next campsite for Housdean Farm on the A27, a distance of about 22km.
It was a long, slow drag back up onto the Downs and along to Firle Beacon, the radio mast in the distance not seeming to get any closer. None of which was helped by a strong cross- (and at times head-) wind.
I was struggling today, but breaking the walk into two near equal halves helped. As did the short cut down into South Ease, avoiding the long switchback, I’d definitely have used if going upwards.
I pulled up to South Ease church for my lunch stop and benches were pretty full. I found one off to one side amongst the bluebells.
The afternoon section of the walk I remember as dragging out when I did it last time. A long concrete track and crossing the Greenwich meridian.
Eventually, though, I could see Lewes so knew it wouldn’t be far. Then the Amex stadium came into view and I knew it was almost done. I skirted the last down and dropped down to the A27 and my campsite.
Day 3: The A27 to Hassocks
I’d hoped for better sleep, but didn’t get it. A slightly sloping pitch didn’t help. With three possible target distances for the day (12km to Hassocks, 22km to Truleigh and 35km to Washington), it was an easy choice – the shortest. But first the biggest climb of the trip to deal with.
Actually after an initial steep pull up through the field next to the farm, it was pretty gentle, even enjoyable.
I paused quite a lot as with only 12km to cover, I was in no hurry. Today was about enjoying the walk rather than achieving the walk. I stopped at the Pink Pit Stop for tea and ice cream then finished off the climb onto Ditchling Beacon.
Once I’d crested the main ridge of the Downs, Brighton remained in view most of the time. I also caught a glimpse of Rottingdean, which was my nemesis in the marathon the week before.
But mainly I was just enjoying being out on a nice day, with minimal wind for a change.
And then I came to the first of a pair of dew ponds, and just had to stop for a bit to enjoy.
But I couldn’t stay there all day, so walked along to the second one, and turned off for my campsite in the valley below. I was pitched up pretty early, and because of where I’d got to it was effectively the end of the trip. So I just lay in my tent and chilled out.
Reflecting on the Trip
The lead up to this trip was a bit different to usual. For one thing I’d been in marathon training all winter, and had not done any hiking, so this was the first trip of the year. Towards the end of training I was starting to go nuts, itching to get back into hiking mode. And then the marathon happened, I recovered and promptly fell ill, delaying the start of the trip until I felt I was on the mend.
In hindsight I possibly should have given it another day to get better.
This was also the first camp of the year, coming on 15 April, and not since my very first year of backpacking has my first camp been that late – and that was only 1 day later, anyway.
It was important to get out, though, and just being out was ultimately the key. Indeed, given I was struggling most of the time, staying out became the one and only objective as the trip went on. Every day I had multiple times when I considered bailing out. And so this year’s warm-up trip turns out to be mainly about mental preparation. As things didn’t go as desired, adapting and just staying in the game became important.
What it means for the Challenge itself is really that I have no idea where I am physically: I’d expected to be at my absolute peak, but the post-marathon hit to my immune system (not uncommon) has left me clueless as to where I’m at. It’s as if the training never happened.
What the trip has done has helped firm up a few gear decisions – not necessarily items I took on this trip – sometimes I’ll take gear on the warm-up to confirm that I don’t want to take it on the big one.
I’m sure what rucksack I’ll be taking (Mariposa), what my sleep system will be (my usual, apart from I’m taking the more comfortable and bulkier pillow), what shoes I’ll be wearing, the food plan, sort of what cook system I’ll use, and roughly what the clothing plan will be. I’m still not fully decided on tent, but the tent I took on this trip is currently in pole position: I’ve not taken it on the Challenge before, and with the large MYOG inner I’m using, it’s a joy to be in each night. I’m going to need that, as this is going to be a lonely Challenge (again)…
Very best wishes for TGO Challenge 2025!
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