Kent and East Sussex - Part II

12th September, East Sussex  - Not going to Battle, not going to Lewes

'Christ on a bike!' I noted in my diary at the end of the day. I was totally defeated in my attempt to get in to the village of Battle to see the famous 1066 location - it was flipping heaving! I was naively expecting a big empty field with some information boards and maybe a shop selling plastic Norman helmets for the kids. Wrong! A real tourist hotspot, with an abbey and high street - cramped and overwhelmed by traffic, I pity the poor buggers who live there. Despite it being one of the main reasons for my trip South, I drove off in a hissy fit.

But - happy day - I found the super Pevensey Castle by accident, with the Royal Oak PUB for lunch next door, a car park with special motorhome spaces (yay!) so I had a brilliant time. The castle marks the spot where William the Conqueror's  boats came ashore, so in fact is even more significant than that other place. A really relaxing visit, and I joined English Heritage.

On the way to Broomfield CMC site, I was intending to visit the Long Man of Wilmington. I did see the huge figure, carved in to the hillside, but it was from sitting in an enormous sweaty traffic jam on the A27. I lost the will to live and didn't visit. Here is an artist's impression (by UKPhoenix79).

The campsite site was lovely (but isolated, and along tight, narrow lanes). I was in a quiet wooded section complete with owls at night. 

13th Sept, Seven Sisters

The next day it was off to see the cliffs of the Seven Sisters, by this time I was fully expecting not to be able to PARK, but thankfully all was ok. I joined the path from the visitor's centre down to the famous viewpoint. Agatha Christie's Poirot fans will recognise it from TVs Elephant's Can Remember.

I walked most of the way there with four women from the US, who were all on holiday, very interesting people. A lovely 3m walk in all, in glorious sun. On return to the centre I had a picnic lunch and headed back.

On the way back to the site, a real piece of serendipity - I called in at a nearby farm shop/cafe for supplies and got chatting to the lady there (no, surely not, how unlike you to start gassing to complete strangers Alison). She asked if I had come for the gallery opening the next day. Gallery??? I had stumbled on Farleys House and Gallery, which only opens twice a week.

So I booked another night at the campsite and took a look the next day (14th):

Lee Miller and Roland Penrose lived here, she was a photographer and cook, and he a sculptor. They entertained many famous people including Picasso, Ernst and Miro. The house interior was gorgeous, take a look at the link, as no photos were allowed.

What a find! And a lovely last visit of the trip, as I feel the weariness in my bones that says it is time to go home.

15th Sept, Cambridgeshire, Hill Farm

I decided not to go to Lewes or Charleston, and instead spend 2 nights at the stop-off, rather than thrash it back up to Harrogate.

The route took me through Royal Tunbridge Wells which did look lovely, but I was back in to congested roads now, all through the Dartford tunnel and on the M11.

I was very glad to get to the site. Bizarrely, I had booked a pitch right under Duxford Air Show! The heat continued, so I had a full day mucking about with the van and peering at the Red Arrows and all sorts of planes just overhead - the photos don't do it justice, I was too busy watching. Plane-spotter neighbours on site told me about the nearest shop, as they come every year, so I was able to get some treats for my last few nights.

Festivals - Underneath the Stars and Magpies

Another stewarding shift, this time at Underneath the Stars, near Barnsley. Campsite gates in the rain and mud! But it was good fun, lots of interesting bands and this time I went up to Cawthorne to Hilary's tea shop and had a luxury breakfast in the sun.

Four nights later I was at The Magpie's festival near York, this time as a punter. I met up with Sue and Paul (and Ellie), and lazed around when not dodging the showers.

GTSF stewarding

Great experience at Gate to Southwell Festival, stewarding with several lovely people and good bands.

I took some time to investigate the van further and found:

• the fridge worked off leisure battery/solar panel fine for the whole weekend (turned it off at night as it was quite cool)
• using the round table is much more comfy at meal time - leave it up 
• there's a 12v socket I can charge the phone on just by the sink - this will use the van battery though I presume

• finally put the double bed up, it still leaves plenty of room so may consider doing that if I am static for a few days
• need to swap to summer duvet
• I took photos of the blobs of rust around the van, to get quotes
• I used the grey water drain but at the end of the stay, nothing came out so it is probably blocked again