Weather was back to normal and after a short coach ride this morning to Newmarket we chose to ignore the promised coffee at the pub as I had already partaken at the M&S coffee shop and the pub sort of let us down last year with a long wait as they had, their words of excuse "other customers to serve" and there appeared to be no extra staff on duty today despite being pre-warned from our organisers.........shouldn't bare a grudge but there you are! We took off again, not being the first coach to arrive, doubling back up the footpath until it met with the SDW we left yesterday afternoon. It appeared that only one coach had already disgorged its walkers but unfortunately 3 more plus us of course, all started out at the same time. 
The big mile all strength consuming curve to the top of Newmarket Hill where it meets with Jugs Road (track) was first a bit like walking over London bridge in the rush hour.....not quite because at least we were all going the same way. Heading across the top soon sorted the front runners out and it always seems amazing to me that having spoken with several people that confessed they don't stop at all and this included the many yesterday. When we told them it stopped raining at 1pm, as per forecast, we had taken lunch not far from the Black Cap turn......they said they were already at the end and waiting for the 1st coach! Missing all the drying out from the hot afternoon sunshine and all the views of the breeze created waves on the golden barley.
We had promised our selves frequently stops today again in the glorious sunshine as we had until 5pm for the last coach. Good ploy for the early 11:15am stop as a fair few passed by and left us to gently walk on with just a few fellows in front and a few behind seemingly for the rest of the day. The ups and downs, sea views and downland villages were amazing. 
So we're the lovely friendly cows and their young that lined our footpaths on several occasions. The descent onto a farm track towards Southease found another group of cows that were being moved from one field to another across our path and whilst we paused I checked on the spider seat that Lesley denied any knowledge of seeing before, and it was only last year! The farmer confirmed that there were indeed two spider seats but they had been obscured by the foliage that had really grown with vigour this year, so fair play to Lesley. Leaving the track to follow the SDW over the road and through Southease village passing quite a group resting on the village green where a water tap, shade and a good wall to lean against, did look very inviting. We carried on for a reason, crossing the River Ouse and then crossing the railway line to Newhaven and making a short detour into the lovely and welcoming Itford YHA. Toilet break and decent lunch in the gardens with the shade of umbrellas.
Proper pot of tea and our first meet up today with Clive but no Lizzy! She was resting Clive said and had signs of a slight limp this morning. We chatted at our shared table with a couple of guys we saw often on the walk. One, the younger of the two, was a newcomer and one had walked I think seven times but not since 2009 and he said that the cafe was not even here last time. On leaving to cross the bridge over the main Newhaven Road we noticed Yurts and Pods in the YHA grounds, looks a wonderful place to stay and must make a note! Well here it was Itford Hill where soon after the ascent we noticed that like lemmings a lot 'cheated' by taking a short cut up the steeper but shorter path ignoring the wonderful mile long loop of the proper SDW with it's views over Newhaven harbour and town and across to Cuckmere and our first Seven Sister we would be on tomorrow........their loss our gain!
Once at the top and air was finally re-entering our lungs, followed a long elevated section passing the Radio Station masts that had been our guide in the distance for sometime and on to 
Firle Beacon at 217 metres was pretty high. We rested, like others, in the adjacent long barrows where a couple of coaches of school children were having a day-out to probably study these ancient tombs. After our rest there were more cows beside the path doing their thing and keeping the grass in-check followed by what seems a long way down lovely unspoilt village of Alfriston. The Smugglers Inn 
beckoned for a most welcomed pint with a few walkers and red-shirts in the beer garden. We all discussed the pub ghost with a new member of staff that seemed to be petrified of locking up on her own last thing at night and who could blame her as the pub was formerly an abattoir? Just a short walk down to the carpark where we boarded the 2nd to last coach for Shoreham.
Just for a change to going back to our static we went back to our daughters house for evening fish and chips, home to bed knowing it was soonto be tomorrow and our 9th and last day.