7th/8th JAN. COLDBLOW FARM(bunkhouse) to BRASTED FARM nr. Knockholt

Generally the past two days have been fairly uneventful.
We left the bunkhouse in thick mist which obliterated any views. The route however was fairly interesting and mud free. Neolithic burial chamber at Kit's Coty near Bluebell Hill,  and the crossing of the Medway having skirted Chatham and Rochester. We had the hum of the M2 most of the way and was able to see the actual thing.
We dropped to Upper Halling to ask at Court Farm for a pitch and was relieved to get one because we were shattered. There was more ups and downs today and more diversity.
Right ankle swollen and radio wind up handle broke off. Had Earl Grey tea to save the day!
The 8 th was ok,  the sun graced us with its presence and gave us a pretty good view from Holly Hill toward motorways below.
We enjoyed Trosley Country park but avoided the Trim Trail with the exercise priority.  Decent cafe stop.
We had planned to get lunch at Otford but the shops consisted of antique and clothes shops and numerous pubs. A newsagents further along was closed for lunch. We were fairly thirsty and wanted to avoid a costly pub ,but had a half further on in the Crown near Morents Court.
The worst section was after the climb up Star Hill having crossed the M25 below Knockholt Pound all the way to Brasted Hill Farm. It was the mud path and hard going,  the hardest of the North Downs, so far!
We asked at the farm avoiding her Dolbermann x great dane chunky dogs and pitched in a field with a blind horse,  we did not put the tent guys out. Another pole broke so I made a repair. Again fairly tired almost 20 miles today. Radio not working.