Littlehampton CAMC Site (N50.826833 W0.541944), contd.

 Thursday, 30th March 2023

13c, and, not raining!, at least, not until 15:00, when it poured down, for the. rest of the afternoon, and into the night.

We will be here over the weekend, which means that Kathleen will want to find a Catholic Mass to attend. Since Covid, it is usually possible to find an online mass, but, Kathleen does actually prefer to attend, in person.

Given the apparent shortage of priests, I wonder, is this the next development, just one priest, sitting in the Vatican, doing Mass for the whole world? I suppose, allowing for time differences, it would be necessary to have a small team, broadcasting a Mass, say, every hour.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Google provides the name of a Catholic Church, St Catherine of Alexandria,, and, directions on how to find it. I am sure Kathleen has been there before, on a previous visit to Littlehampton.

The Church is located near the coast, in a rather smart part of Littlehampton, think, Tynemouth, or Cullercoats. 

Whilst checking the location, a rather pleasant elderly lady engages us in conversation. Apparently, as a child, she was evacuated to Littlehampton, during the blitz, and spent the war living with nuns in a Convent. She is visiting Littlehampton on a coach trip, and is trying to find the Convent, to rekindle childhood memories. Her husband does not appear terribly enthusiastic at the prospect. Amazing how you can amuse yourself, in an out of season UK seaside town, on a dull day.

On the way back to the site, we throw caution to the winds, and, deviate from the "google route', it turns out to be a good decision, we manage to find. a route which is quieter, away from the traffic of the A284, so, we have had a good walk today, just under 5 miles.

Friday, 31st. March 2023

 It is still raining, none stop from about 15:00 yesterday, it does eventually stop, at about 10:00, but, only because the wind increases to a gentle gale.

Alternating rain and gale force wind for the rest of the day, definitely the worst days weather so far.

Bibury. Orchard House CL (N51.758456 W1.855755) and Littlehampton CAMC Site

Saturday, 25th March 2023.

Sunny with cloud, and breezy, but, 13c, and, most importantly, not raining (yet). 

Today is Michaela and Gordon's wedding day, at The Swan Hotel, Bibury,. The weather was reasonable, enough gaps in the showers to that no-one got soaked, and, photographs taken.

The Swan as a venue was well organised, everything appeared to go smoothly, if there were any hiccups, they were well covered up!

All in all, a good day, although, as expected we did eat and drink too much.

Sunday, 26th March 2023.

After torrential over night rain, we have 8c and showers, not good for the start of British Summer Time!

Everyone is no doubt making their way home today. We are resting up, and, hoping for a break in the rain that will allow us to venture out for a walk.

Monday, 27th March 2023

After days of rain, we have a dry and sunny morning, rather cool at 4c.

An uneventful 125 mile drive to Littlehampton CAMC Site (N50.826833 W0.541944), including a coffee stop at what has to be the cleanest UK Services, (a Starbucks concession) we have ever visited (Newbury, on A34).

The weather on arrival is pleasant, and we manage a short stroll to explore our immediate surroundings.

We have been here before, but, it was approximately 14 years ago. The surroundings appear to have changed significantly in that time, lots of new housing built, the adjacent road much much busier 9and noisier). A possible positive, a new supermarket has been build, approximately ten minutes walk from the site.

Tuesday, 28th March 2023

Not too cold, at 10c, but, raining again!

Rain stopped shortly after lunch, allowing a short walk to the nearby supermarket, a few essentials, plus chocolate to make up for the rubbish weather.

Wednesday, 29th March 2023

A big surprise, this morning, it is not raining! A bit grey, but, dry and 13c.

A leisurely morning, including looking up potential eating places. 

There is a pub, the Six Bells, just outside the site, but, it appears to have succumbed to the economic situation, and has closed down.

According to Trip Advisor, The Arun View Hotel is the best eating place in Littlehampton.

We set off to walk into Littlehampton, with the intention of eating at the Arun View Hotel (2.2 miles). 

I think Littlehampton must once have been quite a smart little town, now, it is somewhat faded grandeur, if you imagine, Hebburn-on-Sea, that would give a good idea, for those who know Hebburn.

The food is good, the waitress pleasant, so, on balance, OK, although the artist's impression of the view is most definitely using a big dollop of artistic licence.

To round off the day, I suggest walking back, via a different route, to 'make a circle of it. Surprisingly, Kathleen agrees, and we cross the river Arun, then, walk back to Littlehampton CAMC site (3.25 miles).

Not a bad day, we didn't get wet, we had a reasonable meal, and, we had some exercise.

Bibury. Orchard House CL (N51.758456 W1.855755)

 Thursday, 23rd March 2023

Not well prepared for this trip, I even missed the usual garden, as we left it, photograph!

Approximately 256 miles. I wouldn't call it a particularly pleasant journey, several traffic hold-ups, and, alternating periods of bright sunshine, followed by periods of torrential rain.

Orchard House CL (N51.758456 W1.855755), one of a pair of CLs with the same owner. The other is Orchard Meadow CL. 

The two CLs are adjacent to each other, Orchard House CL has hard standing, whereas Orchard Meadow CL is all grass. 

Given the torrential rain when we arrive, hard standing is a good idea.

We arrive at about 15:00, so, not time to do any exploring, plus, there is torrential rain. The, very pleasant, owner (Peter) braves the rain to greet us, and, give us some information about the local area.

Friday, 24th March 2023.

A sunny start to the day, and 7c, rising to 12c. Windy, and, the rain does return shortly after lunch.

The site owner gave us a couple of maps of local walks. The shortest is 3 miles, and takes in Ablington and Bibury.

We are told that Ablington is a pretty Cotswold village, without the tourists. Well, it is, but, it is without anything else too, we discover.

So, walking shoes on, and, off we go, on a 3 mile walk.

The instructions say to join a public footpath, shortly after leaving the site, 

This footpath apparently is a part of the original Hay Lane, a Roman route from Cirencester. 

Roman route or not, Kathleen decides that after yesterdays heavy rain, it is too muddy, so, we will vary the route (seldom a good idea, when you do not have a detailed map).

 All goes well, we are walking on tarmac, a small road, with only very occasional motor traffic.

One small detail, we do not appear to have reached a village. We do encounter another public bridal way, which is deemed "not too muddy", and, which, according to my sense of direction, appears to be heading off in the right direction.

Now, we are relying completely on our sense of direction, because this public bridal way is not even on google maps, so, we are shown as heading off across a field. We emerge onto a tarmac route at the village of Winston, and, follow the lane to Ablington, from where Bibury is actually signposted. Other than the fact that we spent most of the time without a clue where we were, and, what a pleasant surprise to arrive at The Swan, Bibury, it was a very pleasant walk, scenic and quiet, although, lacking a pub, or, at the least a coffee shop.

After lunch, the weather returns to yesterdays weather. Frequent torrential showers. 

A meal, at the Catherine Wheel, Bibury, with the Kent based Reay family this evening, well, not actually all of them, we are minus Victoria and her husband Graham, who could not make it, because, today is Victoria's graduation day, as a Radiologist, plus of course brother John and his wife Sharon, so, nine of us in total.