The forcast was grim! But it was OK as far as The Pear Tree Pub at Wivelsfield (Just a drizzle). This trip had the luxory of a backup vehicle driven by John Akeham (Clarencourt CC) For the journey down this enabled the heavier bags to be carried all the way from 11s at Henfold Lakes. I travelled via Horley (Waitrose) & the London to Brighton cycle route & met the others at lunch. Stephen Cox left us for home having added to last weeks mileage of 509 miles! John Bassett arrived as we were about to leave (14:30) eating at a Phenominal rate enabled us to leave at 14:45.On to Sainsburys at Newhaven for tea. We now found Vic White was missing – mobile phone switched off so no way of contacting him – it later turned out he experienced speed wobble at Burling Gap & headed inland to the busy A27 where his chainset came loose – he now switched on his phone to call for help from our invaluable back up car. Meanwhile the rest of us tackled the very busy and hilly A259 towards Eastbourne, Mike Morley lost control, more speed wobble and came off at 25+ mph virtually into the arms of a local car bound First Aider who soon had him swathed in bandages, more phone calls and every thing was sorted. The Camelot Hotel made us very welcome with Warmth, Sweets & First Aid. On to Wetherspoons- Cornfield where after several pints Bob, Pam & Mike broke into wild songs for the benefit of Rays camera.
Day 2 Thursday
A dry but very windy westerly encouraged an easterly route along the sea front cycle routes to coffee at Bexhill. Vic had gone to Cycleman Cycles to get a replacement chainset (second hand £10 including fitting). Bob took a bus to visit friends at Seaford. The remaining seven continued via Old Bexhill & a network of narrow sheltered lanes through Hooe, Warting & past Herstmonceux Science Centre to a super roast lunch (£4:50) at The Horseshoe pub at Windmill Hill. A chilly day and on to The Cuckoo Trail for a warm up and tea and cake at The Old Loom café, following the cycle route all the way back to within a mile of our Digs. No rain all day but as we were about to depart for curry night at Wetherspoons it chucked it down, so our host ordered two taxis and we travelled in comfort and style to town.
From Pete Mitchell
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