The Last Ride: 2 October 2011 – Brighton to Ferring (well nearly!)

[More photos on Flickr]

A glorious blue sky. Two Brownie points to Mother Nature. Warm, warm sunshine. Two Brownie points to Mother Nature. A gentle east wind for a trip west. One Brownie point to Mother Nature. Five Brownie points to Mother Nature.

Tessa, Terry, Sue, Suzanne, Sean, Roger, Rob, Marilyn, Leon, Joyce, Jane, Fred. Twelve Brownie points to Clarion. Clarion wins! And win we did with a leisurely potter along Brighton and Hove seafronts, watching the sparkling waters of the deep blue sea, although the slightly-less-than-sparkling sewerage outfall just before the locks at Southwick also attracted our attention for less salubrious reasons. On to sunny Shoreham Beach where the massed decision was that it was too fine to sequester ourselves in a pub or even a pub garden. We would picnic.

The wherewithal was bought. Loos were found at Widewater, Lancing and even in between (thank you, oh ye enlightened councils), and so to Worthing where the beach proved to be too great an attraction to miss (or Fred’s friend Dan’s beach hut was too much of an attraction to Fred to miss, who knows?) – the long and the short of it is that camp was pitched six groynes west of Worthing pier. Tessa and Sue boldly went where Tessa and Sue love to boldly go, i.e., into the briny. Terry and Joyce soon followed. Then it was Leon and (despite all his mum had told him about not swimming after a meal – or was it not swimming in your underpants?) Sean who joined them all. Nics were pic’d; Jane managed to find a coffee, Fred re-materialised and, next thing we knew, there were Terry and Leon racing each other down the shingle back into the sea. All the ladies did, of course, avert their eyes when the force of this rapid entry into the Channel virtually divested Leon of his nether garment. More swimming was swum by the swimmers and then the thought of tea reared its usual head.

Jane, Sean and Fred opted for an early return home, courtesy of Southern Rail, and Rob set off to ride back to Ringmer. The rest were lured by the siren call of the caff at Shoreham Airport. Leon and Joyce chose the marine route back the way we had come; Sue, Terry, Tessa, Marilyn, Roger and Suzanne opted for the country route – quicker and with fewer pedestrians and dogs to negotiate, but rather noisier as it involved a stretch on the pavement alongside the high-speed A27. When we had all met up again at the airport café, the carrot cake was highly praised by Joyce, Roger enjoyed the chocolate shortcake and Leon had the pleasure of a chance meeting with another Hassocks inhabitant and her family. Tessa had to get back for guests, so the Clarionettes returned home in two groups of four after a lovely ride. No, we did not get to Ferring, but we all seemed to manage to have a grand day out, thanks to Leon’s planning and flexibility in adapting his plans for the incredible October weather.

Joyce reminds us that there is a charity concert in aid of Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital at St John the Evangelist Church, Knoyle Road, Brighton at 7.30 pm on Saturday 15 October. Not only will the Hangleton Brass Band be playing, but Joyce will also be singing in the “Brighton Voices” choir. Entry £5.00. Under 12s free. More information from Joyce.

Suzanne