Subuteo Table Cycling in Church!!!!

Bank Holiday in Warminghurst Church.

Off by a little after 09.30 from the beach at Shoreham. We set the dial for the beautiful Warminghurst church. Whatever Louise gave R for breakfast worked. He went off like the proverbial rocket just after the Ropetackle roundabout. It took me a good few miles to catch him up. He was fully loaded up too!!  Bright and beautiful morning. Before we knew it we had completed ten miles of the fifteen. A quick stop to take off a layer. Very warm but we were not complaining. That makes a change!!  We do not complain really we just make observations. Three more miles including a steepish hill. Navigation first rate even without good old Jeff.  We arrived to a lovely warm welcome from everybody on the team at Warminghurst Church. Stunning venue, perfect location on the top of a hill in the downs.   Louise arrived and I felt confident she would be clutching a caramel slice for me but alas no go!! The get in was easy and no sooner said than done we had the whole thing set up and ready. I am starting to feel more confident about what plugs in where. No lights today. Easy. The Cycling Music seems to be going down a storm. The acoustic in the little church was to the Maestro's liking. Good to have it right. The church had retained the box pews and some were making observations about not being able to see our dear artiste. Never mind the sound made up for everything. As there are no lights to do I am sitting in the vestry writing this blog listening to Shed Sunrise! Perfection!!  

Upsetting passengers on the train to Eastbourne.

A Sunday Ride.

No concert today. A day off then. Hardly.  A trip to church before setting off by train to Eastbourne to collect the bicycles and head back to base at Shoreham.  Picked up Jeff ( correct spelling here after yesterday.) at Hove station.  Trains were on time but for a Sunday very busy. Standing room only for some.  I nearly upset a fellow traveller by offering to help him with his crossword. 7 down: Board game. Cluedo   My offer was not received with any enthusiasm.   We trundled on to Eastbourne passing by the Long Man of Warmington. The largest  representation of the human figure in the northern hemisphere.  That is straight from the maestros collection of useless information.    Having  been reunited with our cycles we headed home. One or two very interesting hills to cope with on the way. Weather was kind to us; sunny, warm and a gentle wind on our backs. We left Eastbourne at 13.25 and rolled into Shoreham at 16.45      Louise had prepared a great dinner for us.  Most welcome.  We rested and ate and then set about sorting out the bikes for the next gig and ride.       I managed to get beaten playing Scrabble in the evening.  As always one or two arguements resulted from the encounter.   Good job we did not attempt Monopoly or even Cluedo!!

Robertsbridge here we come!!!

Back to Lewis to pick up bikes and meet a friend of RD's from school Geoff Haines.   I have to say I felt confident, being in the company of two local boys and with plenty of knowledge of the back doubles, that the ride to Robertsbridge would be a simple one.  Having called Louise back to give us all the items left in the back of the car we set off again!! What ensued was nothing short of a complete debacle. Within twenty minutes we were lost and almost certainly heading back to the departure point. Lewis never seemed to be more than seven miles away for hours. Lots of map consultation and navigation committees. Somebody needed to take the blame for this. But who? I think Geoff has been selected.  Time got away from us and arrival at the the Darwell community on time was out of the question. We moved slowly towards our destination. Hills a plenty.   Great welcome from Henry and the community. Acoustic concert was well received and the warmth of the audience was tangible by the end.   With bags packed and following a quick cheese sandwich we hit the road again heading for Eastbourne and the evening concert some twenty five miles away. More hills and plenty of suffering going on but we made it. Geoff had pulled himself together and sorted out the navigation.   Bless him. Got to the underground theatre. Bikes carried down with some difficulty. Artiste whinging about the hills and nearly sixty miles. 

Stage set in double quick time. RD refused to share his dressing room with Geoff and I.  More loyal friends and followers of Richard. Kind donation from a lady to Big C. She had lost all her brothers and sisters to the wretched cancer. How kind. Great show. Bodes well. Lots of hills and miles and he can still play. I knew he could do it!!!! 

Anne of Cleves House Lewis

The concert here was sold out! Standing room only. We arrived from the school around the corner. An intimate space you could say. Took some time over a cup of tea in their cafe. Richard produced his purchases from the fish shop, smoked cod's roe and a bag of whelks. Tasty.   The smell permeated the whole cafe on only it's second opening day. Very pleasant ladies  served us and chatted on a whole range of topics, some normal everyday stuff but others quite bizarre.   Down to business and yours truly got things set up. Not enough kettle leads for the equipment!  Another call to the Tour Manager. Sound sorted first and good old Louise brought more for the lights She has the patience of a saint!    Show went down well with a good number of old friends there to support RD. We left the bikes locally and drove to base and bed but not before the maestro himself demonstrated his culinary skills by knocking up a wonderful pasta. 

Lewis Ride

Richard very kindly took me to the new  Level Park and promised a latte at the Velo Cafe. Richard offered to donate a copy of his new album, Cycling Music, to the lady serving us for the cafe.  "We don't have a CD player" was her terse response.  The tension grew as we placed our order. Richard rapidly lost interest in his Americano when her level of customer service failed to rise above the totally disinterested. We left without taking our coffee with Richard placing the cafe on his list of places not to revisit.  We eventually took coffee in a Cafe Nero in Lewis and jolly fine it was as was the service.   Richard called me something rude because I chose to take a caramel slice with my coffee.   RD got his worn out fingernails sorted. Should improve performance tonight!