I am hoping to raise £200 to help Buddhafield pay for this beautiful land, where family retreats have been held for the last few years as well as a popular retreat open to beginners.

 I have completed my cycle ride of  the length of the  Downslink,  a 37 mile off -road track that runs a few miles from  Guildford,  to  Shoreham-by-Sea  in Sussex, over Sunday and Monday 17th/18th October.    

Here is my report:     

TRAUMA   AND   DELIGHT    on   DOWNSLINK   ADVENTURE

Sue P/Sikka’s sponsored cycle ride raising money for Buddhafield’s Land Appeal

(see http://www.justgiving.com/sikkasuepringle to find out about Buddhafield’s Land Appeal)

 

On Sunday 17^th October, at 7.45 I started out alone to begin my journey.   It was a beautiful crisp sunny morning.   I was somewhat apprehensive as the first half of the route was new to me, but the weather was auspicious.

 

Travelling on the train to Guildford via Havant I was shocked and in panic when my train missed its connection.     The 37 mile ride is advertised as taking a whole day – and the nights are closing in early.   So my schedule was already tight!

 

In Guildford my downloaded local authority map to the Downslink didn’t quite cut the biscuit so I asked directions – of many people - and was sent up into the town and round and about, getting more and more distraught and desperate.   After a grand tour of Guildford town I eventually settled for a footpath winding its way up and down the Chantries (ie wooded hilliness) mostly pushing my bike through thick sand.   Everyone I met there reassured me - ‘it’s a long way’ to the Downslink!

 

So when I eventually passed St Martha’s Church on the top of the North Downs Way to begin my official ride it was already 12.15!    In fifteen minutes’ time, at 12.30, I was due to meet two friends at Southwater, 20 miles away.  This was not going to happen!     I blessed the mobile phone – and Jill and Malcolm – when they offered to ride up the path to meet me on my way down.

 

 The top of St Martha’s Hill is very beautiful – high up (166 metres), covered in trees and sandy soil, with wonderful views over the weald.    Lovely for walking, treacherous for cycling.   So much deep sand along the bridleways.   Finding the start of the track was like solving a Chinese puzzle.   With many routes going every whichway, and visibility interrupted by trees and slopes, I again resorted to asking.  This time it paid off and I found the commemorative stone announcing the building of the Downslink path in 1984 and my first Downslink signpost.

 

Sand is mentioned on the internet as a feature of the North Downs – until I experienced this myself, it hadn’t occurred to me I would have to walk my bicycle over much of the first stage of the route.   A fantastic surface for horses – to whom I gave way.  Also very rutted, and not at all level!   In fact until reaching the track built over disused railway lines, starting at Bramley&Wonersh station, deep trenches, boulders and steep sides to the path impeded my travel.   Once on this wide and level (if jarring!) surface I could cycle freely, bent on making up time.   The ‘hundred years railway’ had been  built in 1865 joining Guildford via Bramley with Christ’s Hospital, while the southern half of the Downslink from Christ’s Hospital to Shoreham had been built over a line opened in 1861 at nearby  Itchingfield Junction.  Both were closed by Beeching in 1966. 

 

What joy just beyond Cranleigh, to meet up with my two friends, and to seek out with them a sunny wooden bench where we could eat our picnics.   Not enough time to stop for a meal in the pub  (further on The Bax Castle is well situated for those with time on their hands, about half way down near Christ’s Hospital and Southwater).

 

Refreshed and with renewed energy we travelled on with the image of a large pot of tea hastening our pace.    Just got to the Country Park at Southwater in time!!  What bliss – tea, bread pudding and ice cream – all they had left.   Delightful to sit inside by the window and look out onto the lake – a lovely spot.    

 

 (In earlier days the clay pit now filled with water and home to ducks and swans, had been dug out to make bricks)

 

After debating whether to continue – it was 5 pm and the sun was low on the horizon – Malcolm and I chose to cycle the 7 miles to Henfield while Jill drove the van to meet us at the Cat and Canary pub, situated conveniently on the Downslink itself .   Formerly the Henfield Station Hotel, it is just a few yards north of a housing estate, ironically known as ‘Beechings’, where the old station used to be.

 

That last stretch, and having company for half the ride, transformed my day.   The surface had improved to become almost smooth.  It was level and we sped along, enjoying views over fields and rivers, with the sun low over the South Downs and beauty all around.

 

The Cat and Canary proved to be the last stop of the day.  Useless to continue in the dark.   So we settled for a beer and I was grateful for a lift home.

 

Next morning, still hyped up from the day before, and full of a desire to complete my journey and my commitment, I travelled to Henfield and enjoyed a pleasant morning cycling the last stage through Bramber to Shoreham in lovely open country with a backdrop of the Downs and Chanctonbury Ring.   

 

After a brief  pause to appreciate the view over the river Adur, with Lancing College on my right and Shoreham Airport to the left, I turned my back on the old wooden tollbridge and toddled off back to Brighton.

 

That afternoon – I fell asleep!

 

Many thanks to those who generously supported me with donations – and if anyone feels inspired to contribute to the Buddhafield land project, or would like to find out more, just go to the Just Giving website at the top of this report.   It’s surprisingly straight forward.              Sue P   aka    Sikka

In 2006 Buddhafield bought 17 acres of gorgeous land in Dartmoor National Park called Frog Mill. It cost £85,000 and Buddhafield has done very well to pay off over £50,000 but there is still £35,000 to go. The land is used to hold some of Buddhafield's larger retreats and has a salmon spawning river, the Blackaton Brook flowing through it and is home to kingfishers, dippers and a host of other wildlife. There’s some photos on-line at www.flickr.com/photos/fwbo/sets/72157594390868206/  

The Buddhafield collective has a heartfelt desire to contribute to protecting land, and enabling people to build caring relationships with the earth that supports us. The need to preserve healthy soil and habitats where wildlife can thrive grows ever more urgent in our time.

Buddhafield is looking for 150 people to raise £200 each, by the end of 2010, in creative and exciting ways - as I am doing- so that Frog Mill will be paid off and we’ll be free to go on to other things.   Would you like to be one of those people sharing your skills, passions, creativity and talent to help Buddhafield? 

Thank you to everyone who is supporting me.

Love    Sue P/Sikka

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

The smallest and largest sums are all appreciated, so if you wish to contribute, do please go ahead and donate now!