Yesterday we thought we were leaving Bosham for Rye, then we didn’t as we realised that we weren’t booked in until today. Only today we realised that we were actually booked in for yesterday, 10th, but we decided that the 10th was today….
We are, quite literally, struggling to know what day it actually is!
Anyway we, belatedly, left Kia Ora this morning and Calv decided we would follow the A259, as far as possible, along the coast. This was rather lovely for most of the way as the sun was shining and, being the Easter holidays, there were lots of people out and about enjoying the sunshine.
We stopped in Brighton for a walk and some lunch and it was very busy (even though the photo above makes it long empty). It’s no longer free to park along the seafront, as Calv remembers; it’s now £2 for an hour and £4.20 for 2 hours.
After leaving Brighton we were held up by various roadworks and an accident where a bus had taken out a traffic light in Peacehaven.
Despite this we were glad we went this way as we saw areas that we desperately want to re-visit, such as the area near Birling Gap with a winding river, where we’ll be able to put the kayak in. We must buy those wetsuits soon!
We finally arrived at our site, The Cock Inn at Peasmarsh.
Hmmm… Our intention had been to stay here for 9 nights. We spent that 1st night looking for somewhere else. First thing the next morning we set off 3 miles down the road to have a look at a site I’d found. So much better for us, so on we moved. Our new site has peacocks and peahens as well as the obligatory chickens!
Once settled we set off to see Rye in the afternoon. What a lovely surprise this charming little town is! (I have a funny feeling that ‘charming’ may be a much overused word in the coming months!!)
It is, indeed, ancient – as noted on the town signs. If you want to know more about it then read my review here.
Today, Thursday 13th April, we sat in the sun and cleaned the van in the morning and then, after a lunch of salad (yes, for me too!) we headed out to explore a little more of the surrounding area.
We drove through some beautiful little villages, looking out at scenery with numerous oast houses with their distinctive conical roofs, topped with a white angled cone, white boarded traditional houses, fields of rapeseed, sheep and glimpses of bulrushes, denoting water even where we couldn’t see it. What we don’t see are many abandoned buildings (although there have been a couple of tumbledown farm buildings); any available barns and oasthouses have long been converted to substantial dwellings.
We crossed the steam railway just before Bodiam (within easy reach of the castle). The Tenterden to Bodiam steam line runs to here. A train was just about to depart which meant the gates were being closed by the station master (apparently along the route the driver jumps out and closes and opens them himself!) He tried to wave us through, but as if we were going to miss this! So we watched the train depart and can’t wait to take a trip on it ourselves 🙂
After visiting a motorhome sales centre (very disappointing range available) and trying to visit a reservoir (inaccessible) we decided to visit Battle.
We re-joined English Heritage as we entered the Abbey, and began our visit. Please see my separate review for details. Needless to say this is a wonderful attraction and we would highly recommend it. Very informative and the way the information is presented is excellent.
Even if you aren’t a member of English Heritage I would suggest that it is well worth the entry price.
I have written a separate review of Battle Abbey & Battlefield.
turnrightoutofportsmouth 