Sussex Countryside, Boats and Bikes...
Southern England is where it's at this year..
Fact Panel
Details
Trip Date:
June 2013
Transport:
VW Golf
Accommodation:
Treeps Cottage, Policemans Lane, Hurstpierpoint
Duration:
Five Days
Cost of Trip Per Person:
£440
Video:
Panasonic SD Camera
Rating:
Good
Members Attending
Brighton Trivia
County
Sussex
Population:
280,000
Known For:
Nude Beaches, The Lanes, Nightlife
Where is Brighton?
Day One: Saturday 8 June
This year it was a trip down to the Downs in the form of a billet in said place at Hurstpierpoint in Sussex. Chris Sets off from home to Pick up Mark and calls at Woodville for Matt then it's down the M1, stopping at Newport Pagnell for refreshments before arriving Hurstpierpoint and checking out Treeps cottage, their home for the next few days.
Up and after the usual breakfast set off for Hassocks to find the cycle hire we had planned on doing. It was closed..so we hung around in hope of them turning up and even tried to ring them it was a no. The cycle hire place appeared to be connected to the pub so when it was closed, Matt suggested that the owner was also the owner of the bike hire and that he couldn’t be bothered to open it after a particulary heavy night..and that he was now lying face down in a urinal. The boat trip from Eastbouorne which we had also spied was also a no go due to bad weather.
Mark Chris & Matt set off to investigate the village which is a bit strung out but has 3 pubs. The furthest one is picked which was called The Poacher and they grab an early pint. Lunch is care of the local deli. Later John arrives in his company van and they trek out to the nearest Tesco and spend less than £100 on food which was somwhat surpising, given past purchases. Going round the supermarket, Mark utters the phrase "you can always get some more"; which is then frequently quoted at every opportunity.
DSA later in the afternoon then they start off at the White Horse for an opening beer followed by a meal where they only do Thai food, followed by The New Inn,The Poacher and The White Horse. In the pub John admits that one of his dogs is called 'Copper' which brought on a whole range of jokes about the rest of his dogs (he has lots) also being from the periodic table ie cobalt,mercury and selenium etc. Not a bad night then back to the House for Crisps before retiring to bed.
Day Two: Sunday 9 June
So we decided to re-jiggle our entire itineary and move the go-karting we were going to do on Monday into the Sunday slot and thus ventured off to Q-Leisure and checked out the Go Kart times. We were unable to go on it immediateley with advice to 'come back this afternoon'. So we re-arranged our itineary yet again and decided to go to Brighton, which was disappointing sadly. The Lanes Car Park was extortionate for 2013 at £4.00 at hour. Went on the pier before a trip on Volts railway to the Brighton Marina, which, the Group concluded, was an eyesore consisting as it did of an Asda, a David Lloyd Gym and a Sand sculpture exhibit. We were tricked by the lady driver of the train who made us get off the train at the Marina with some excuse about adjusting the handbrake and greasing the axle. We wanted to come straight back but by the time we had been to the toilet, she had driven off and we had to view Brighton Marina instead. What a trap.
Eventually the Group leave Brighton and get lunch from the Co-op and eat it at the cottage. That done, it's off to the Go-Karting where much fun was had driving round and round before heading back to the house for DSA. Awoke from their slumbers, the Group head off in the car to go and look for food. Mark has spotted a nice pub in Sayers, but alas as we get there at 2 mins past 6, the last food was served at 6.00. Further trekking round finds us at the Top House in Burgess Hill where we can eat, eventually the group were pushed out by someone setting up a poker night. Mark came back into the pub from standing outside, and announced that he had just disposed of a large plume of wind into the Hello Kitty Wendy House which was in the childrens play area. The precision description of the 'Hello Kitty' bit was amusing, meaning he had time to note the style of the depository.
They drive back to Hurstpierpoint, dump the car then on to New Inn for a snifter and on to the Poachers where they partook in the Quiz Night before, again heading back home for snacks and a marvellous epicurism of sleep.
Day Three: Monday 10 June
Another day, and the Group set off for Hassocks Bicycle Hire, managing to hire 3 Saracen Bikes. John brought his own. They did a route that took them up onto the top of the South Downs. Took a breather at the Jack and Jill windmills where they were passed by some Ghurkas training, then came back down to Hassocks and then onto Gerrards Green for lunch at the Sportsman. There was relentless moaning from Chris about the saddle and the weight he was carrying. His front brake was also stuck on, thus slowing him down. When ordering lunch at the sportsman, Chris asked for the Tuna & Cheese Melt but without the cheese. The bartender paused a moment, chewing on his pencil whilst he contemplated whether he dare ask the chef for such a fundamental ingredient change. Chris was ushered towards the welsh rarebit instead. A whole range of variant jokes sprung up with members asking for something without a main item. A route back to Hassocks via road and they had a drink at the Hassocks Hotel.
Bikes returned, it was back to the House for DSA. Chris took a picture of Mark whilst asleep and put it on Facebook before he woke up - The caption read 'Mark has spent most of the trip like this -I think he's broken - can we send for a new one?', which causing much comment, likes and general slag off-ery of the unfortunate Mr Mark. .After that they once again set out in the car for dinner where the Duke of York at Sayers Common provided the necessary sustinance. Back to Hurstpierpoint for afters and it was a general quiet evening reflecting the physical state of the group. They sat outside the Poachers and ended up at the New Inn where they went in the back room which had a quieter ambiance.
Day Four: Tuesday 11 June
Raring to go and with much vigor, the Group set off to Eastbourne as part of day there. They arrived and tried to find the Harbour, eventually finding it near the water but a long way from the shops sadly. Having done a recee, we parked up in the city centre for a hot drink. Headed to the Pianta Del Caffe for a Hot Chocolate and a slice of cake which of course was very agreeable. Then onto the shopping centre for John to buy DVD's and Matt to get a waterproof sleeve for his camera (Freezer Bags secured with sellotape)
They then all assembled at the dockside. The Sussex Voyages offering was a 12 seater RHIB capable of 26 Knots. The trip went out through the sea lock to Beachy Head and back, taking about one hour fifteen minutes. AL that sea salt and wind meant it was time for a snack at Seamoors Wine Bar. Omelette & chips went down nicely.
Back home for DSA. Mark noticed in the comments book that someone had said they were a jelly mould collector and they were surprised that such a valuable set of jelly mounds was on the inventory. Chris immediately set off for the kitchen whilst warming up eBay. Matt imagined that another comment would be "the jelly moulds were inadequate. I certainly shan't be stopping here again..".
They left the house early for a visit to Brighton. Parked in the Lanes Car Park, despite moaning about the hugh parking fee and wandered round a bit. Courtesey of Trip Advisor they located a Spannish Tapas restaurant in the backstreets known as 'The Lanes'. All very nice, it was time for a drink afterwards in the Mesmerist which coincidently happened to be the name of a boat that we had followed through the sea lock earlier. Finally they drove back to Hurstpierepoint for the last time and frequented their usual pub haunts. Chris remarks, after the Group return to the house at night says 'At least we've not been broken into' Matt responds with 'Yeah well given the large reservoir of jellymoulds that are on the premises..'.
Day Five: Wednesday 12 June
It's the final day all too quickly, and having cleaned up the place, the Group leave for Lewes. The first job in Lewes is to find a coffee stop for cake and Teas. Mark is put under pressure as he is given 5 mins by the group to find one - Baltico Polish does the job. It's onto the castle in Lewes which is quite small but gives access to some high areas so that affords the Group to spend some time getting some photogenic group shots and visiting the museum.
Then its back to Hurstpierpoint to pick up John's Van and the Group set off home. The first stop is Pease Pottage for a tactical No 1. Matt explains the difference between a tactical and a necessary wee and why a No 2 can never be tactical due to the planning time required. They push further north, calling at Newport Pagnell for afternoon food dinner / tea. Thus ends another trip. Next year its points west with a visit to Wales..but that's a different tale.
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