The end is near...

So this weekend has been eventful and I'm very proud of myself for surviving it haha I went hiking. I was misled about the hiking trails diffculty (sarah... haha) but I'm definitely glad I did it.

The group was so cool! It was me, sarah, scott, will and surprise guest nate. It was a really good mix of people, and all of us are some of the most chill people on the trip. We woke up early, I was actually ready first at exactly 845 am.. i'm really proud of myself not gonna lie. Right from the beginning, we were rushing and things stopped going smoothly haha Nate had decided to go, which glad he did, but he had to buy his tickets and confirm a reservation at the same hostel at the last minute. Ironically, we got to the train station and he got on the train easier than we did... go figure. It was a classic beginning to a Meredith vacation. Just like my dad used to say "Off like a herd of turtles"

I actually said that to sarah, I don't think she got it. oh well.

The first town that we started in, Eastbourne, was beautiful. Apparently it is a retirement type town and thinking back, that makes complete sense. It's a small town, with quaint little cafes and stores on the edge of a coastal area. The cliffs were incredible!!

The walk itself started off difficult. Basically, we got to the start of the trail, look up and groaned. Well, I groaned haha I was seriously not in shape for this kind of trek. Scott and Nate and Sarah handled it like champs, definitely made me and Will look bad hahaha sorry Will. I struggled so much.

Once we got over the first hill, it wasn't so tough until the Seven Sisters area.... that will come later. The cliffs were incredible. The were one of the greatest views I've ever seen, and while I took pictures, I don't think they could be recreated in pictures at all. There were little towns to stop in throughout the trail, and we really only took advantage of them for a quick 5 minute rest, or ask for directions (we definitely got lost multiple times, adding like 3 miles onto the hike!).

Eventually we got to the most difficult part of the entire trip... the seven sisters. There were like 9 really but whatever England, call it what you want.

Basically, there were seven hills in a row, growing in size with each hill. It was great. What made me feel even more like a loser was that there were children and old men and women with their walking sticks just strolling up these hills and I'm barely taking two steps in a row without wheezing for air!

After the seven sisters, I even got tired typing them in caps haha, it was a downhill pretty easy walk through a bunch of farmland. We were literally walking through people's land, just randomly. More sheep and cows than I have ever seen in my life. They were just clustered on the paths and were break apart when walked by like it was nothing.

The guys were hilarious throughout this entire trip. They were discussing the most random things. Me and Sarah would be off in front talking about the dynamic of people living in the flat, and plans for our future and our personalities and then behind us we'd here quotes from South Park and Avenue Q or debates about football.

However, they were funniest during the walks through the livestock. They consistly attmepted to pet them. Nate declared a desired to ride a sheep. They would approach them from any angle, or talk to them. I was afraid that they would get kicked by a cow or charged by that one rebel sheep. I would have laughed, no doubt, but I would've felt bad about it.

I won't lie, everyone made some comment toward the sheep. they were just so amusing to talk to haha When we were lost, their blank stares looked like they were mocking us. When they were in out way, we commanded them to move. We would say hi as we passed them by or be envious of their simple lives of standing and eating.

It was lonely out on that trail.... don't judge.

Eventually we got to Alfriston, the small good for nothing town that our hostel was in. The people were nice, and the building were pretty and apparently there was good ice cream, but it was the most boring town. I don't think i'll visit twice. The hostel itself wasn't bad at all. I actually didn't mind the tiny beds and loud roommates haha.

The next morning we got an early start just to be early enough for our train, no room for error there. We figured, well 15 miles yesterday was really hard, so this will probably be pretty simple. wrong. wrong. wrong.

The first part was like a pile of hills. It was meant as a bridleway for people riding horses, but of course, no one actually used it for that. Eventually, there was no where left to go but down and that's how we spent most of the remaining 3 miles of the last leg. Downhill with cows and sheep.

It was pretty funny how every final destination was cause for celebration. "Is this Alfriston??? HALLELUJAH!!!"

"Is this Southease?? WE SURVIVED!!!" It was great.

The train back, I slept and read a bit of my book. And enjoyed my killer sunburn on only the left side of my body. Sucks walking the same direction the whole way. Apparently being burned suits me though, many people at work complimented my new color with straight faces haha

The two days after the hiking began however, pain. Nothing but pain. Pain from my muscles, pain from my joints and pain from my sunburn. I just had to endure it all and go to work and be happy that it involved mostly sitting down.

Last night me and Brooke and Marj went and saw Grease, with free tickets that my work provided. It was so much fun! The show itself was just pure cute and fun and music. It was mostly word for word of the movie, however, the movie is definitely better and I really want to watch it now haha

Finally I woke up this morning and was still slightly achy but no real pain, so that's good. This week is my last week with the job and the program :( for the job :) for the program.

I really liked this job. I really learned a lot especially near the end. The people were incredible and I'm going to miss working with all of them. The program was not that well organized but it was definitely a learning experience as well. If not the business class being helpful, the lack of help from the program helped me learn to cope with a lot of different things on my own.

I'll write another blog after my mom gets here, in 2 days!!!!!! I'll talk about the last weeks adventures out and such.

bye!