South Downs Way, day one part one.

We reached Winchester at around 5 yesterday, but things were clearly not the same. The silly 'argument' about noise levels around the verge, where we waited for the number 64 bus the short 8 miles distance, had grown into a disgruntlement at each other.

After a shower in our room I went to find calm, a beer, a dog, or two, and to read a little. Once I'd reached Stables, to meet Mike for dinner, the tension in the air...

... Something fundamental.

***

We just ate breakfast together, but there is an unspoken antagonism towards each other. So we went from laughing at the bottom of our ribs to not speaking, beyond auto response, in 24 hours. Having never walked with anyone for more than a day on The Way I've no experience of the conflicts we humans conjurer up. But we did have a bit of fun along the Pilgrim's Way and we did reach Winchester in one piece.

That road and them cars were loud, but what can be done about it right there right then? And we all have our own perception of things. My sensitivities are not Michael's and vice versa.

In between the traffic there was stillness and solace. It wasn't an 'A' road, it was Sunday and people who had been enjoying their leisure were returning to the monotony of another Monday morning blues.

***

Monday morning is nice. It's just me once more. The philosophy will stay unsaid, the socio-cultural discussions will remain shtum and Monty Python is out of the DVD player and away in its case. Do I need a licence to spend time with a German? Does the Post Office have a form to fill in? And I've just kicked a deflated fusball which is our collective heads!