2. Vanguard Way East Croydon Station to Oxted
19th October 2008
The Vanguard Way is a long distance path, about 50 miles long, crossing part of London, Surrey and Sussex, between East Croydon station and Newhaven. The guys who first put the route together from a collection of local footpaths called it the Vanguard Way because they found themselves travelling back to London one day on a crowded train - in the guards van.
The group which collected at East Croydon station at 9.30 that morning was not large - only 3 of us. That meant that it wasn't necessary to book somewhere for lunch and we could use trains for transport, or almost. Engineering work on Sundays is a fine British tradition, so that a car left at Oxted station was useful.
The early part of the walk was skillfully put together from parks, green lanes, and playing fields as we gradually worked our way out through the suburbs. In fact it was surprisingly pleasant and hilly, as would be expected with the North Downs. the route description from the website was incredibly detailed, so it took a while to get used to the idea that we were being told not just to cross a road, but where to cross it, and to press the button and wait for the green man as well.
We had lunch at the Bull at Chelsham Common, just outside Warlingham. As we got there shortly after 12 the landlord said the spuds had just gone on for the roast and we'd have to wait 40 minutes for the Sunday lunch. We said ok a bit reluctantly, but soon the landlady came over and suggested we go for ham egg and chips instead. This was a good idea and we went for it. After that we felt so happy that we had the apple pie and custard as well - rather stodgy but the real thing, and then coffee. (Not to mention 2 pints of something or other.)
I should know by now what happens to me if I walk at a pace after such a heavy lunch, and it did. There were only about 3.5 miles left to go after lunch and the first was steeply downhill. Then it was steeply uphill along a bridleway leading out of Woldingham up Greenhill Shaw and my heart began to race in familiar fashion. I slowed right down and the other two went on ahead. In the end after periodic rests I got to the top of the hill and my system settled down. My doctor told me to follow Matron's advice. No exercise for a half our after a heavy lunch, or better still a light lunch. There's nowt like an owd fool.
Glad to say the others weren't phased by my slowness, and we got up the pace again. The views across the Weald from Flint House at the end of this bridleeway were stupendous, as was the noise from the M25 at our feet.
We scrambled down the steep slope and joined the road under the motorway and into Oxted, where it seemed that the station had moved to the other end of town as we plodded along pavements to get there. Eventually fell into Chris's car and got dropped at Redhill, really happy to get home by train.
Now 20 miles nearer France, I am beginning to think if there's a more homemade way to cross from Newhaven to Dieppe than the ferry. My boat SHAMU is in Cornwall, so that's out. I wonder if a friend who is restoring a classic Hillyard in Newhaven might fancy a trip over to Dieppe sometime in 2009. Dieppe to Equiqueville is about 12 miles, so that should be do-able in a day. Worth thinking about. Next section is on 30th November and I expect it to feature a posh resturant for lunch. may need clean footwear to change into. Wonder how that will go down.
