MAY DAY Challenge - Calling all Boots

Last year on May 1st, a few founder members of this exclusive group of retirees assembled at the foot of Long Man, Wilmington at Dawn, (5.15ish) to witness the Long Man Morris Dancers do their annual dance in the lane, as the sun rose.
As they continued to dance, at 6.00am, we set off for what was later marked as a 'May Day Challenge', in the knowledge that the Morris Men would be dancing again at the Laughing Fish at Isfield at midday. Whilst the Morris Dancers were off to have breakfast and dance at a couple other venues, we set about a walk in order to meet up again in Isfield at watch them dance again.

After just over 16 miles we arrived on the stroke of midday and enjoyed a well earned pint and waited for the Dancers to arrive. Yes, we beat them to the pub!

It is by this principle we considered the idea of repeating another 'May Day' Challenge this year, which would both acknowledge and mark the intentions for the forthcoming summer season of walks for the group, as well as test out the level of physical fitness for those wishing to continue walking with us.

So, with this background I hereby give notice for any of the summer wine hikers (we think we know who you are) to express their availability for participating in this years May Day Challenge.
The 1st of May falls on a Tuesday. Chances are the walk could be either linear of circular as well as starting in the early hours of the morning, e.g. dawn or thereabouts, and in the vicinity of the Long Man, Wilmington. Its likely to be in the region of 14 - 17 miles in distance and will expect to be out most of the day, with a picnic lunch also.