Day # 9 Eastbourne to Hastings.

        

Rain swept Eastbourne sea-front.

     Day # 9     Mechanical problems.     

  

         A grey start to the day. Leaving the bed and breakfast hotel at 6.30pm I was able to escape the dreaded full English breakfast of bacon, eggs, bangers and fried bread, all oozing in cooking oil. The locals seem to thrive on it, but it’s not easy for others to take, especially as lunch and dinner offerings seem to also revolve around versions of fish & chips with something. Find myself buying prepared salads at the local super market so as to achieve some semblance of dietary balance. 

       Achieved the targeted 10 kms by 10am, when there was a distinct ppppht from the left tire of my trusty jogger. There I was stranded, immobile, dead in the water, on high-land, 10 miles from my days destination of Hastings. Realizing that I would likely damage the wheel rim if the tube was not repaired/ repaced pronto, I decided to take help from the passing 99A double-decker omnibus, dutifully plying it’s route to Hastings and coastal points east.

      The local town information office was quickly able to direct me to Frank’s cycle repair emporium and with in 40 minutes I was mobile again. Able to locate accommodation for the night on the east end of the sea-front marine promenade, positioning me for a rapid start tomorrow towards Folkestone.

      February is the season to repair and re-paint tourist accommodation, ready for the summer tourist throngs that will descend. As a result, some establishments are closed down for the month, others reek of paint and have wet paint & sticky window ledges.

The afternoon saw clear skies, increasing temperatures up to 10C., the first sun shine seen for a number of days. Several hardy types even doffed their shoes for a quick paddle in the icy sea-water!

       Should, of course, make brief reference to the historic1066 Battle of Hastings, when those Normans invaded and at the conclusion of a battle at (the nearby village of) Battle, the course of history, was irrevocably changed.                                 

16 kms walk plus 16 kms bus. 203.4 cumulative kms covered:
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 5
Type of accommodation: Foyles sea-front B & B.
Cost of bed & breakfast: 30.00  pounds.