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Easter 1066 – 2002

For most of you who have read my articles before will notice a slight difference in my report of our Easter trip.  This is due to my having Bronchitis a few weeks before Easter and not being able, as usual, to walk at the front of the group.  Whilst at the front I am able to watch where we are going and relay in my mind all the little anecdotes and incidents that happen during the day or the night before.  This time I was either in the middle or trailing behind with the back marker.  This not only meant I was unable to look at the scenery but I had the opportunity to join in the gossip with the other members of the group. 

The weekend started with Paddy the driver and a full coach arriving at Arundel for a quick stop, which gave us the opportunity to watch the activity on the river and admire the Castle.  We then arrived at Pevensey where we were able to indulge in a cup of tea and cake or a quick tour around the castle grounds before we all assembled at the entrance for the official Webb photograph.   The weather was kind to us and the 5½ miles over the wonderful countryside to Herstomoceux gave us the insight to what was to become another great weekend.  Dave had the great idea of using ‘Black Spots’ on all open gates so when Lynne, as back marker, went through the gate she knew whether to shut it or not.  This worked very well and could possibly be used by other leaders, especially with large groups. Along the route we noticed plenty of ‘drift wood’ or large ‘dead trees’.  One of these had rotted from the inside and had a very large whole inside so Ellen sat in it to have her picture taken.  The contours on the outside were amazing and very smooth. 

Another 1½ miles past Herstomceux Science Observatory, with its 5 large telescopes we arrived at Boreham Street where Paddy came to pick us up.  While we were waiting to get on the coach we stopped by the gate of a lovely Oast House, which had been converted into a home and farm.  We were making a bit of a noise and the owner and her two dogs came out to see what all the fuss was about.  We told her where we had walked and asked if we could all come in for a cup of tea, as it was so hot.

Our Hotel was in Eastbourne and on arrival we unpacked and got ready for dinner.  After dinner although there was some entertainment in the hotel we all went off in small groups to sample the Eastbourne nightlife.  Our group eventually found a watering hole where there was bouncers on the door and we asked them if we needed to show our ID but they said only when we came out.  We walked along the promenade where the tide was in and the moon was full and low glimmering on the calm water.  Ellen noticed a group of teenagers having a bonfire and she asked them if we could take a picture of them.  I said to Ellen ‘Stand over here and you can get the Moon in’.  The youngsters thought I said ‘get a Moony’ so they proceeded to take their trousers down.  We then had to convince them Ellen had to show this picture to her husband and it would not be appropriate.  Ellen then blamed me and said I get her into lots of trouble.  (I don’t know about that!).

The next day’s walking was 5½ miles from Boreham Street to Stevens Crouch for a lunch stop and a further 3½ to Battle where Paddy would take the non-afternoon walkers.  Again the weather and scenery was wonderful.  Part of the walk took us through a fir tree plantation where there were rows upon rows of trees about shoulder height and a delightful perfume reminding us of Christmas.  (One adventurous tree jumped into an open rucksack and travelled quietly back to the coach.)   Battle Abbey was a great sight towering in front of us as we came out of the trees.  We had time to look around the Abbey or do some shopping before getting back on the coach and headed for dinner.

During the day we all talked about what we did the previous evening. Dave J and Dave C said they had found a watering hole, which would be good place for us to go that night.  So 26 of us took over the non-smoking part of the pub where both the drinks and the jokes flowed well and I would say we all had a great time.

Easter Sunday again was another glorious day and before the walk from Battle Dave suggested we had a minutes silence before setting off on our 4½ mile to Westfield for lunch.  Most of the walk was good walking until we encountered a stream, which had swollen, and the ground around it was very deep and boggy.  We were all left to our own devices to encounter the mud but help was at hand for those who got into ‘bogged’ down.  The sheep were plentiful in the fields and the baby lambs, black and white, were frolicking about in the sun.    The New Inn was the place for lunch and we all assembled outside to tackle the next 4½ miles to Icklesham.

As is becoming the norm on Lynne and Dave’s weekends we were all invited to their room for a drink in the evening.  There were 42 of us sitting or standing and Dave said, with a smile on his face, that he had never had so many women on his bed all at the same time (Lynne also said that about the men!) 

All packed and ready to go home on Monday we said goodbye to the see and Hotel.  Dave Lee had gone for a walk to the beach and came back shouting that there was a ‘Duck’ on the beach and he must get his camera.   We all thought he was a bit strange until we realized that he was talking about a WW11 Amphibious Duck.   The walk took us the last 6 miles of the ‘1066 Walk’ to Rye.  This time we encountered an extreeeeeemly loooong cow behind a bail of hay, an archway across the road with no walls and a working windmill before we entered the town of Winchelsea where we had lunch.  You never know what to expect on a Shepherd Weekend, not only did we have the good weather, fantastic scenery, a good social time but they had organized the Mayor and a group of his dignitaries, all dressed in their finery, to be at Winchelsea to greet us.   The Church of St Thomas the Martyr C1290 was an odd shape for just a church it must have been a monastery or something.  On the outside wall there was a very modern blue clock and inside the Stained Glass windows were very impressive.   The end of the walk took us to another windmill where we all posed for another photo. We then meet up with the non-walkers who had spend the day in Rye and had time for a drink and look round before getting on the coach back to our drop off points. 

We would all like to say a big THANK YOU to Lynne & Dave for all their time and effort they put in to make the weekend memorable.

Barbara Burlefinger