With Charlie successfully rescued from the clutches of the evil bathroom, we were able to continue the rest of our trip around the south (albeit a small trip).
Brighton was it’s beautiful cold and bleak looking self (think Coldplay’s iconic Yellow video). We headed off east towards Kent but ended up only making a b-line to Battle. Because we still haven’t managed to decipher the road signs, which show both London and Hastings (opposite directions) on the same arrow, we managed to get lost a couple of times.
We did however get to Battle and found a nice tea shop for some much needed sustenance for the kids, whom have decided that car travel just isn’t their thing anymore (much more fun in trains, planes, sky trains, tubes, undergrounds, buses and sea buses). [for those who didn't know Battle is where the fight was not Hastings, some 10miles north of Hastings].
Just after parking the car we came across a Military wedding leaving the church with a small guard of honor. It was very cute, and believe it or not the guy giving the command to raise swords actually said “up diddly up”!!! The car they left in was a stunning rattle trap car.
As we were playing the poor kiwi traveller we didn’t fork out to go into the Abbey and Battle Grounds, but went for an awesome short ramble along a ‘public footpath’ (the coolest things) around the back of the battle field, taking a route that the invading Normans would have. It was stunning English Countryside at it’s best and was just beautiful.
Back into the car and off to London and back to Hampton, with only a small thing of the M25 counter clockwise at rush hour to negotiate. Actually it wasn’t too bad, just the speeds are incredible and the sheer volume of traffic was impressive. We even found our way to the M3 and then onto the A316, but then had to give up and ring Sarah for the exit and directions, something that is difficult at speed.
A great short trip out to the coast and one we’ll do again and again I hope.
Notice I got the kiss – not bad eh.
Abbey Entrance (sneak over the gate view).
