Monday October 1 & Tuesday October 2 (Eastbourne, Pevensey Bay & The Loop)

Monday

I had a leisurely start to the day and then ordered a taxi to take me to my new hotel. 

I had booked a different hotel further down the sea front. It turned out to be a good move, my new room was incredible with a fabulous view, even having a kitchenette downstairs but still in the room, lol!

I then went off to do some shopping at a nearby supermarket. on the way I saw the funniest thing, a kitten walking along a narrow strip at first floor level of the house, lol.

Then I noticed a lady open the front door and I asked if it was her kitty, she said it it was and opened a window so the kitty could go inside, lol!

My shopping was quite heavy and I could only carry my bread in my right hand. 

A lovely fellow saw me struggling and carried my shopping back to the hotel for me. he was a delightful young man and we had a good chat along the way!

Later, I caught the bus to a small village called Pevensey Bay to the east of Eastbourne. It was yet another gorgeous day, with a cool breeze but lots of sun. I could see Beachy Head to the west and towards Hastings in the west.


I wandered round for a while and caught sight of the ruins of Pevensey Castle. 

When I was at Eastbourne Girls Grammar School we had six houses, famous Sussex Castles, Arundel (navy), Amberley (pale blue), Bodiam (gold, my house), Camberley (turquoise), Herstmonceux (green) and pevensey (red).

After sitting in the sun for a while I went to a cafe and had afternoon tea, the staff were so lovely and friendly!

I walked to the bus stop and started chatting to a lady who was also waiting. She has lived in Melbourne, Australia for twenty years but is moving back to the UK. 

She does not know where she is going to live, in her words, "the south is too expensive and the north is cold". After I talked about Napier, she then wondered if she had made a mistake!

Back at the hotel, I had a break then went for a wander along the sea front before returning to use the hotel swimming pool to exercise my shoulder. It was pleasantly heated and I was the only one present. I dried off a little and returned to my room to shower, where I would also wash my swimsuit.

At least that was the plan! First of all, I eventually worked out that one control below the shower switched between the overhead and hand held showers. Then I found a stainless steel control on the wall on the left, there were two knobs both had the word OFF written on them. I turned them both and all I got was scalding hot water. Finally, I rang reception and one of the managers came up to sort me out, LOL! By the way, the control also doubled as a hanger, lol.

Tuesday

I slept late today and had a leisurely breakfast before heading out.

 One of the bus routes in Eastbourne is called the Loop so you could say I looped the loop (sort of)!. I caught one not far from the hotel and the first part of the trip took me down memory lane.

It travelled out to the suburb called Hampden Park. I spent six years here and I actually passed the Infant school I went to. 

The building is still there but I am not sure what it is today. I got off at the shops by the railway station and the crossing is still the same bottleneck it was all those years ago, lol!

The long journey then took me to new territory before heading back towards the town centre. The route meandered around some surprising roads, off the beaten track. 

I had some great views of the hills behind Old Town where I also used to live. I got off at the stop nearest the station, it was time for lunch, lol! As I was leaving the cafe I spoke to a couple of locals, turns out one of them was in Napier in February this year!

I take my hat off to Eastbourne’s bus drivers. Most of the routes involve narrow streets, many with vehicles parked both sides, and tight turns. 

The Loop features a double decker bus, the driver met many challenges!

It was interesting to watch other drivers and so few made the bus driver’s job any easier!

Unrelated but interesting, I am very surprised at the huge number of people I have seen smoking in Eastbourne!!

After returning to my hotel for a rest, I headed out again for a walk along the seafront towards the pier. 

I came across the strangest sight, a couple of new look beach huts, lol, there were only two of them, it would look so much better if there were more of them!

Then, I walked onto the pier and beyond to the carpet gardens, they still look good from ground level! I returned to my hotel and decided a pear cider would go down well, lol! Then I went up to my room to relax, make tomato sanwiches for tea, have a shower and head off to hit the hay!