The earthen track to Cuckmere Haven (Microadventure)

I'd bagged two days holiday from work, and vowed to make the most of my, what I was (probably irritatingly) terming 'midweek bonus weekend' in the sun...

Upon getting off the bus I kicked off my trainers, turned my phone off, hooked my bag over my shoulder, and set off, barefooted down the short, rutted, earth path to my location for the night; Peace, reflection, solitude and 'me time' (or Cuckmere Haven for short).

I spent the first hour or so exploring, attempting to skim unskimmable stones, and testing my courage as to how near the notoriously fast flowing waters of the River Cuckmere I could get, without falling in and getting sucked out to sea.

After that, I found a location on the grassy cliff to bed down for the night, in my sleeping bag (no bivvy needed on these dry, summer nights) - It was a majestic location near the cliff edge (though with my hatred for heights, not TOO near the cliff edge), over looking the famous chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters, and the mouth of the River Cuckmere, almost framed by what I would describe as a 'mini valley' ON the cliff.

I lay down, undertook some basic breathing exercises, pondered a few ponderings, and after reading a couple of chapters from the book I'd brought with me, I dozed off into a light, dreamless sleep. I woke a few times, and on one occasion was fortunate enough to witness a streaking shooting star fleet across the night sky before the clouds rolled in. Obviously I took time to wish on it! When I awoke for the last time (a couple of feet away from where I had actually bedded down, having rolled slightly down hill) I witnessed the wondrous site of day break over the still majestic Seven Sisters Cliffs.

My sleep may have been disturbed, but the opportunity to sleep under the stars, hear only squeaks of nearby rabbits, and quiet mutterings of distant sheep and cows, wake up to the peaceful Cuckmere Haven, ponder my ponderings and forget all of the troubles of every day living, made this whole microadventure on my 'bonus weekend' totally worth it.

I glugged some water, brushed my teeth, packed up my bag, and set back down the rutted earthy path to pick up my bus back to content, excited and and slightly tired (or home for short) - I was back for breakfast time too!!


...photos to follow once the film has been developed.