Best bits: back on the cliffs, chilled evening
Worst bits: molten Easter eggs!
Distance: 18.3 miles
After an hours drive from Ferring to park up Priscilla at Brighton Marina Dave dropped me off at the F-off lighthouse at Shoreham where I finished yesterday.
The first part of the walk was along a really busy road and I was worried that this was going to be it for the rest of the day however, I was pleasantly surprised when the route took me on a wiggly windy route through the docks, over little bridges and onto an Esplanade and then the dock road.
It was a beautiful morning, the wind had died down compared to yesterday. The sea was blue, very flat and calm and it looked like we were set for fantastic day. The sun was shining on the sea reflecting like golden sparkles and the offshore wind farm was glistening in the sunlight.
I walked past the power station that was my target on the horizon yesterday. Unfortunately, the output from the industrial activity at the docks was very stinky in places! phew!
As I progressed on the main promenade at the side of the beach at Hove the beach huts were colourful and then I spotted this one with a name plaque. Doris was my grandmother’s name and is the name of Bev’s dog.
I was fascinated by this sculpture. It’s so dynamic and looked at its best against the blue sky. ‘Flight of the Langoustine’ representing human dash for freedom. Apparently this plinth has changing artwork installations.
On into Brighton and I headed towards the Palace Pier, the remnants of the West pier destroyed by storms and fire was in the foreground. A grim reminder of the glory days of the past.
The Bandstand originally opened in 1884 has been sympathetically restored and is a cafe on the ground floor. It’s easy to imagine this in its original use.
I stopped at the Reading Room cafe at Black Rock to have a cuppa and cake. I liked the reflection of the atmosphere and activity in this beautiful mirror.
I selected to walk on the Undercliff which took me past Brighton Marina on a large paved Esplanade where the going was easy. I was just on the phone to Bev when Dave came up from behind me. He wasn’t supposed to be meeting me until Rottingdean but saw me from Asda and had been trying to catch me up since.
Brightons Marina village is a new development and the houses here look like the come with a ‘parking space’ for your boat! All at a cost of more than a million (boat not included).
Dave walked with me until Saltdean. Then I was back on the cliffs, I felt more at home enjoying the views in the glorious sunshine. These cliffs are more of an incline to me now so I powered up them. They are chalky white shining bright like whitened teeth.
I passed Peacehaven and looked at my route across the cliffs at Newhaven with Seaford Head in the distance.
At this point I suddenly had a vivid vision of Angela’s face, with a mischievous glint in her green eyes and a smile on her face. She was looking at me with a knowing expression. I was immediately happy but then after a few minutes it made me feel really sad knowing that I would never see her again. I desperately tried to imagine every freckle, line and feature on her face. I sobbed for a while.
Eventually I came into Newhaven. I had walked 15 miles and was now desperate for some food and a cuppa. I messaged Dave who was walking towards me to meet me at a cafe there however, there wasn’t much choice of eating establishments.
Paul a local chap asked me what I was doing and offered to buy me any provisions I needed. Bless him. I had a cuppa while I waited for Dave. I ordered beans on toast as this looked like the safest thing to eat. Everything else was fried!
One the way out of Newhaven we saw this lovely bit of Easter themed yarn bombing.
Finally we were back in Priscilla. It’s Dave’s last night and tomorrow is a rest day for me and so we hit the tins. Rum and coke for Dave and GnT for me. We even watched a movie.
It had been hot today and so unfortunately our Easter eggs had melted! It’s just as well Asda still has plenty in stock so we were able to replace them.
Dave was on a mission today. He popped up before we were due to meet and we route marched when we were together. While I was shopping and then getting our evening meal and drinks sorted he went out for another walk! He ended up doing more miles and steps than me today!!
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