From the Secretary:
We were fortunate to experience some glorious weather for our new year cycle ride to Carats cafe last week. It was great to reacquaint myself with the cafe’s starlings, who now join diners inside the cafe. A pity the Carats cafe staff seem less tolerant of these wonderful birds though! Those of us sitting outside in the January sunshine were treated to pleasant starling birdsong. I wasn’t told off for feeding the birds this time, so maybe the Carats staff are finally learning to live with their avian friends.
I was impressed with Anne’s electric Brompton bike, which sadly didn’t make it to the cafe stop. The e-bike’s battery needed charging and Anne had to return home before joining us for the Carats starling event.
Perhaps we should have more than one Carats gathering each year? Any thoughts on doing something similar at Easter?
I’ve included a few photos from the ride here. The Strava link details the coastal route to Carats.
Boots & Spurs, Autumn 2022
It was good to have Ian and Sue join us for our first ride of the year, Ian has a meticulously researched article on the cultural socialism of the early Clarion movement in the current issue of Boots & Spurs. Ian’s website is an excellent socialist history resource.
Jim has written a good Boots & Spurs piece on intriguing sculptures and artwork we have discovered on recent rides, There are also excellent accounts of the 2022 Clarion Sunday gathering at Clarion House from Saddleworth and London Clarion.
Nick.
From the Webmaster:
A happy new year to all Clarion people, and well done for a record turnout on the Carat’s ride (11 people by my reckoning – Ian, Sue, Fred, Doris, Tessa, Dave, Wendy S, Nick, Mick, Ann and me).
Here is a vague summary of discussions, necessarily fragmented by the size of Carat’s tables, but mainly involving Dave, Doris, Tessa and me – with previous email input from Wendy T, Sally and Sikka.
We hope to do a ride from the Pier to Lewes via the Egret’s Way on 15 January, weather permitting, with return on the train if there is one, otherwise it might turn into a circular.
Beyond that – Angmering to Littlehampton seems popular and I will try that one out soon. Also the Chattri ride but probably better when it’s less wet and muddy. And possibly Hassocks to Shoreham too. For these darker days, a repeat of the little Burgess Hill to Hassocks ride we did last year (only 11 miles) might suit. I also hope to put some veggie-meat-substitute on Dave’s suggestion of a ride to Warnham Nature Reserve – one for the longer days, perhaps. And I am sure the Rusper proposal will eventually work out (third time lucky), again in warmer times. And there will be wood anemones! Finally, for filling in any remaining gaps in the programme, my vote is for a return to Outwood Lane and Redhill Aerodrome, which I hope would be popular.
Nick has suggested riding the East Sussex Coastal Cultural Trail – click here for a suggested route.
I’ll also mention a completely wacky idea I had, which was to do an Ouse-themed ride which would, in some respect yet to be defined, have links with Olivia Laing’s fascinating book “To The River”, with its backdrop of local history and Virginia Woolf. Watch this space!
Jim.