About all week rain has been a constant. Thankfully only a mist here and there, and when it did downpour, we were either in bed, or somewhere inside. However, I wanted to make sure there would be good weather for a trip to my "happy place" - Eastbourne. This day was it, and we were off.
Leaving from the home, we wound our way to Victoria Station, and then a train into Eastbourne, passing POLEgate along the way, and the Longman of Wilmington - who has been welcoming me to this city since I was a young boy.
Upon arrival we wove our way up to the English Channel coast from the station, and sat down for a traditional lunch of fish and chips. Yum. Then we visited the Eastbourne Pier, where I mourned the loss of the grand ballroom, where I blew countless pounds in their arcade. It burned down a few years ago, and now it's only a wide spot in the pier. Hopefully they will rebuild.
We made our way around the pier, and then took part in a long-standing tradition - enjoying a "99 Flake" ice cream cone. I've had hundreds of these over the years, but Sam was able to have his first. It's just a bar of flaky chocolate stuck into a soft serve ice cream, but it sure is good.
After that bit of reminiscing we began our walk down to my grandfather's old flat along the Channel. We sat in his memorial bench out front (getting pretty faded), then proceeded down to the beach to scatter a bit of my mom's ashes in the approximate spot where my grandfather's was scattered some 20 years before.
Then began the journey up to Beachy Head. First we stopped in for a pint of beer at the Buccaneer pub, then off on a open double-decker tour bus to the cliff head. What a wonderful experience - we sat in the back on top, with the wind and sun in our faces as we listened to a commentary about all the sites we were passing by as we made our way up.
We were dropped off at the top, and walked a few hundred feet to the cliff edge. Around us was an absolutely stunning view of rolling green hills and the Channel. The South Downs are now a national park, and it's easy to see why. Just breathtaking beauty all around. Sam then walked along the cliff edge, with a nervous father looking on. We finished up in about an hour, hopped back on the bus, took and additional tour of a nearby village, then back to the station, and caught a train to London soon after. All along enjoying the party sunny weather throughout.
Back in London we decided to wind our way up to the location of Abbey Road Studios - where the Beatles recorded. A bit surreal with some "fans" taking turns on the famous crosswalk. Their gift store was closed, so I committed to come back the next day. To be different we jumped on a bus and rode it close to our home, then a very short tube back. More late night chatting with Roma and Toby ensured, and off to bed.
No comments:
Post a Comment