Hostel Trip July 9th & 10th

YH Trip to Telscombe & Truleigh Hill Hostels

Wednesday July 9^th

The weather forcast was very bad – (It was right). In torrential rain we met at Tesco’s Hookwood, the eight dedicated hostelers floated off eventually leaving the area after a series of committee style decisions found a suitable direction to” The Cat “ at West Hoathly for lunch, warmth and food restored our spirits – but it was still pouring as the shortest way was taken to Lewes for food supplies (Self cooking at the hostel).

Armchairs & Costa coffee at Tesco’s, thankfully the rain had stopped allowing a dry climb up to the hostel snug in the valley at Telscombe for a pleasant evening of banter and chat as hostelling should always be.57miles (50 in the rain)

Thursday dawned bright and warm making yesterdays efforts definitely worth the effort. A short tour of the church yard to visit the grave of the brother of Gracie Fields (A Star of the thirties!), oil for the chains & away over the hill into a fresh westerly head wind found us at the foot of the cliffs on the under cliff way at Peacehaven taking us as far as Brighton past the skeleton remains of the old pier, through via cycle way behind Shoreham Power Station over two huge sea lock gates onto lunch taken at the wonderful Art Deco restaurant at Shoreham Airport.

An afternoon in the sun on Lancings immaculate putting green found Ian & Ed both making holes in One! Eventual winner being Ian (Beginners luck?). Italian multi flavoured icecreams at Macari’s Italian Restaurant by Worthing Pier befor climbing past Somptings Norman Church on a stiff climb over the downs offering clear views inland and dropping quickly down to “The Steyning Tea Rooms” for Cream Tea etc.

Time was running out if we were to make the Hostel in time to order an evening meal

So the ever efficient organiser Terry phoned in our request plus estimated time of arrival Neal, Ray & Ian chose the shorter (6 miles less) but very steep rough ascent

Pete, Pam, Ed & Terry the scenic but longer via the cycle way over the Old Toll Bridge at Shoreham (Closed for repairs!) so even longer. Norman with a private plan took off and got lost arriving much later in the evening. Neil had waited until the evening to anounce the putting champions and generously presented Ed & Ian with bottles of wine. 39 miles

Friday again wonderful panoramic views whilst eating an exceptionaly good hostel breakfast. We all descended the steep way down to Steyning and now a good tail wind through quiet lanes to coffee at “Camelia Bothar Garden centre” switch back lanes by the Hammer Ponds to meet Mike M for lunch at “The Holmbury Inn” Faygate, a leisurely tea at Denbies and home via Ashtead Common. 48 miles.

Thank you Terry for the inspiration and organising such a memorable and enjoyable

Trip.

From Pete Mitchell