South Coast East 22
Sunday 4th September. It’s almost two months ago
that we had to cut short our previous trip away because we
both caught COVID whilst at Dawlish Warren. Obviously, we are hoping
that lightening doesn’t strike twice as we set off on a two week break
to mainly the South Coast starting in Folkestone.
By way of a change, I used my Samsung Tablet as an alternative to the
built in sat nav. I had downloaded TomTom software onto the tablet and
purchased a dash holder. It was a pretty straightforward route so I
wasn’t expecting any difficulties. The only problems really, was seeing
the screen in the sunlight and also keeping the tablet in position. The
next stop will be more challenging as far as the route is concerned.
We joined the M1 at junction 14 and it was interesting to see the fourth
lane had been completed. I know many don’t like these so called “Smart
Motorways” but having the extra lane does make it easier to join a busy
motorway. My gripe is that some parts of the M1 are full time four lanes
and in other parts the fourth lane can only be used when traffic demands
which to me makes it a bit confusing? We continued onto the M25 where
four lanes mean four lanes, much easier. We stopped at the Thurrock
Services only to find most of the space taken up by lorries! Fortunately,
we managed to squeeze in.
Once over the Dartford Crossing, quite an easy process to pay for online
in advance, we took the A2 and the M2 towards Dover. It’s amazing to
think that the A2/M2 route was once the main route to Dover before the
advent of the M20. Although the route is a mix of motorway and dual
carriageway it certainly doesn’t meet modern standards. There are plans
to build a new road via a new tunnel under the Thames downstream of the
Dartford Crossing but I think it only intends to link to the A2/M2 but
not the M20 which would make more sense?
We arrived at Black Horse Farm about 2.30pm after a bit of a hold up on
the M2. We have been to this site many times before but only stayed one
night because we were using the Tunnel, this time we have 5 nights and
no Tunnel! The site is quite busy but you never know how many will be
moving on tomorrow to make their way into Europe.
Monday 5th September. Weather a
bit grey early on but improved as the day went on and still quite warm.
We took the bus into Folkestone today, we were the only ones wearing
masks! From the bus station we walked down towards the Harbour not
realising how far it was! Lots of steps and sloping paths. The Harbour
Station, long abandoned as an actual station with trains, has been
reimagined as a harbour side bistro and café land. Except it seemed
closed today!
The Harbour Railway Station opened in 1850 to provide the world’s first
land-sea-land International service from London to Paris. Journey time
was initially twelve and a half hours including the sea journey. Compare
that now with Eurostar London to Paris of just over two hours! During
the First World War well over ten million troops, Red Cross and other
workers used the Station. The final Venice Simplon Orient Express
service was in March 2009. It then remained derelict until the recent
restoration of the platforms and the surrounding land. As it was
essentially an international station all the station signs are in
English and French and these signs have been part of that restoration.
We did find one café open where we enjoyed a nice coffee and Danish
overlooking the Harbour. We couldn’t face the long climb up through the
old Town, although it looked interesting so we took the bus back to the
bus station. We had a quick look around the local shops but it all
seemed a bit run.
Tuesday 6th September. We had thunder overnight
and some rain but the ground this morning didn’t look as if it had a
good soak? Decided to take it a bit easier today. We took the bus up to
the Folkestone Garden Centre which is about a mile from the site. I
suppose we could have walked but the road is very busy with traffic and
we weren’t sure that there was a footpath all the way. Where we live, we
have a couple of very large and high-quality garden centres so we tend
to judge by that standard. I thought the plant collection was really
good especially their Heuchera selection. Likewise, their outdoor bits
were quite comprehensive. Perhaps where they didn’t quite match up was
their non gardening offer. Having said that Margaret did manage to buy 4
books for £10 which might keep her going for a while! Fortunately, they
did have a café so a restorative coffee was in order before getting the
bus back.
Wednesday 7th September. Bit of a lazy day
today. Initially the weather was a bit unpredictable although, as it
turned out it has been quite pleasant although not as warm as the
previous two days. I think we are finding going out day after day is a
bit tiring and sometimes, we just need to say to ourselves what is the
rush! Mind we could have cut off our nose to save our face as tomorrow
is forecast to be wet! The site is quieter today, perhaps not so many
people cross over to France midweek?
Thursday 8th September. More heavy rain
overnight and spasmodic showers and heavier downpours during the day. In
a break in the weather, we did walk up to the little General Store
opposite the campsite for some milk. It seems you can no longer rely on
Club sites to sell much in the way of provisions. This is our last day
here. It could be said that we have not done as much as planned but we
don’t see much sense in getting wet!
The big announcement due today was what help the Government was going to
provide to combat the ever-rising energy costs. Even the statement in
the House of Commons was interrupted by the Speaker who gave the sad
news that doctors were concerned about the health of the Queen. From
that point on that has, hardly unsurprisingly, been the ongoing story on
the BBC. Later in the day we heard the very sad news that the Queen had
died.
Friday 9th September. Today we moved to the C&CC
site at Normans Bay site at Pevensey. It was an interesting route with a
mixture of good and bad roads. We are increasingly finding that just
because a road is designated an A road is no guarantee of it being a
good road! Initially we headed for a Tesco in Eastbourne for some
shopping and to fill up with fuel. From the supermarket it was quite
straightforward getting to the site although the last mile and a half
was quite narrow but we managed. We got to the site at about 1.15pm and
were surprised by the queue to get in given that most
newcomers would have paid automatically on the morning of arrival? It
was probably the showing to pitches that were slowing things down? We
were escorted to our pitch. The surface was loose gravel which made it
impossible to get up onto our levelling boards. Fortunately, we were
not far out of level so we left it.
Saturday 10th September. Weather has been much
better today with lots of sunshine and quite warm at times. We had a
wander around the site this morning and it is pretty
full. Its positioned adjacent to the coast at Pevensey Bay between
Hastings and Eastbourne. I am not sure whether the site is
below sea level as strangely you can see people walking along the bank
that divides the site from the sea and they appear to be at caravan roof
level! We set out to explore a bit out of the site, noticing on the way
a food van in the car park selling bacon sandwiches, yummy, but I
resisted. We climbed up the bank dividing the road from the sea. The
tide was well up and the only ones on the beach were a few fishermen.
Like most parts of this coastline the beach is pebbles rather than sand.
We walked along to a group of houses and what looked like a Martello
Tower but it looked too modern. Walking on pebbles is hard going so we
made our way back to the van. Later on, I walked back up to the beach to
take some photos. The tide was out and there were some horse riders on
the beach.
Sunday 11th September. The day started with us
watching the Queens coffin being driven from Balmoral en route to
Edinburgh. I am surprise we have not had an embargo slapped on us by the
Palace as something seems to happen to the Royal Family when we go away
in September. It was 25 years ago when we were travelling down to
Charmouth that we learnt of the death of Princess Diana. Feeling the
need for some exercise we had another walk along the beach, this time in
the opposite direction. On a notice we saw an illustration of the land
ownership along the beach which suggested that the houses along the
beach owned the land to the high-water mark. Although we were apparently
allowed to walk along the beach but we had no right of way! Couldn’t
quite make up my mind if it the dwellings along the beach were permanent
houses or just summer houses? Although there were a couple of quite
smart houses some looked a bit run down and not very large.
Monday 12th September. Another nice sunny day
although with a brisk breeze. We again decided to have a lazy day. The
site remains busy with people leaving and others arriving. I have even
seen people wander across to the beach for a swim!
Tuesday 13th September. Unfortunately, the
weather has turned dull and damp again after three nice
days. We had not planned to do much as we were expecting a What’s App
call from our eldest son and his wife who are on holiday in northern
Brazil. The call was a bit late but they are four hours behind us. Like
us they are staying next to a beach but in their case a sandy tropical
beach rather than a dull and pebble beach but at least we have not
endured a ten-hour flight to get there! This is our last day on this
site before moving on tomorrow. The weather does not look great for the
journey but seems set to improve the following day.
Wednesday 14th September. We left Pevensey this
morning in pouring rain. Can’t remember the last time I resorted to my
Berghaus waterproof jacket? We called into the local ASDA to replenish
supplies. Interesting to note that some of the parking spaces had an
extra section between each bay that made it a bit more comfortable to
park a larger vehicle. The route from Eastbourne to Winchester was
mainly along the dreaded A27. Most of this road is dual carriageway but
there are parts that go through very built-up areas that slow the
journey down quite a lot. By the time we got to the M27 the sun had come
out and it turned into quite a nice afternoon. We arrived at the CMC
Mornhill site near Winchester around 2.00pm. The site is pretty full but
we found a pitch on the lower section of the site. This section is owned
by the Club but the upper section is still owned by Winchester Council
but the club seem to have secured a reasonably long lease to make it
worthwhile rebuilding the toilet block on that section to match the one
on the lower section. Whilst they have retained most of the grass
pitches in the upper section there is a small section of hardstanding
designated as “Ferry Pitches”
Thursday 15th September. Weather a bit dull
today with the occasional appearance of the sun. Certainly, the
temperature has dropped a notch or two. We decided to take the bus into
Alresford today which is about half way between Winchester and Alton.
The bus stop is about a quarter of a mile from our pitch so not too bad.
It has a twice hourly service. Alresford is a small market town which
retains its charm of old. This probably reflects the fact that there is
money in the area? Interestingly I don’t recall seeing any charity shops
but I may have missed them? There was a small market in progress when we
arrived and even this seems to reflect the general prosperity of the
town with some excellent stalls, cheese, bread of all varieties, fish,
vegetables and flowers. We spied a coffee shop across from the Market
and made our way there. It was in an interesting building as it must
have once been a bank as some of the seating was in the former strong
room, the vault door was still in place. As I looked in, I joked with a
lady drinking her coffee that I hoped that there was not a time lock on
the door, which elicited a nervous laugh!
After a very nice cup of coffee at Coffee#1, we made our way down to
Alresford Station which is now part of the Watercress Line Heritage
Railway, formally the Mid Hants Railway. There was a steam train just
about to leave so we got there in time. The Watercress Line so called
because the trains used to transport watercress, grown locally in the
chalk streams to Covent Garden. I remember watercress from my younger
days as my Father worked in a wholesale fruit and veg merchants after he
left the army and we often had watercress at home although even now I am
not aware it being generally available on its own although it is often
in mixed salads and sandwiches. Back to the High Street and we were
greeted by about 8/9 police officers which seem a lot to be walking
altogether? A little while later we realised why, they had all been to
the fish and chip shop and were, no doubt, returning to their mess room
to enjoy their purchase! After buying a few things in the Co-Op we
caught the bus back to the campsite.
Friday 16th September. The forecast today was
for wall-to-wall sunshine and although there was a lot of sunshine it
was also cloudy at times. The wind has also turned to become a north
westerly. As a result, we felt the need to put the heating on in the van
this morning!
Today we took the bus into Winchester but it didn’t get off to a
particularly good start as the bus was half an hour late. When the bus
arrived, the driver was quick to point out that she was on time and had
overtaken the earlier bus! Fortunately, it’s a relatively quick journey
into the City and we were dropped off right next to the statue of King
Alfred. Winchester was very busy and it was market day, I am sure the
bread man was the same as the one we saw in Alresford yesterday! Given
the delay on the bus we nipped into M&S for a coffee and something to
eat before continuing our exploration. Winchester was, of
course, a previous capital of England and although that was long ago it
has retained some of the grandeur. Not least the Cathedral which was
open to the public without the normal charge. Many were lighting candles
and signing the book of remembrance in honour of the late Queen. Whilst
the bus back was on time, I don’t think I have seen so many people
wanting to get on! Many of them were of six former age and it was a
delight to see so many of them giving up their seats for older people.
Saturday 17th September. Beautiful sunny day but
very cold overnight as the temperature dipped to around 6 degrees. A
week ago, it was too hot at night! We did get the chairs out but it was
chilly in the wind. As we were having a lazy day prior to going home we
did decide to have a proper look around the campsite which had recently
been refurbished. The lower section is now all hardstandings. We were
last here in 2006 when we still had a caravan. We had previously used
the site reasonably regularly as we had relatives in Southampton. Once
we got the motorhome, we were put off a bit because it had only grass
pitches. All this has been changed in time for a return visit? The upper
section still retains grass pitches but unlike the lower section which
is now open all year is only open on a seasonal basis.
Sunday 18th September. Still cold overnight but we seem to have dealt with it better. Nice and sunny again which always makes it easier to pack up, not that there is much to do with the motorhome. A fairly simple journey for us today, straight up the A34 and onward to Bicester, Buckingham and MK. Usual stop at Tesco Wolverton to refuel and home at around midday.