Brighton Weekend

Friday

With the van packed up, lightly, for the weekend, we were away around 10.30am. 

We decided to take the longer route via the motorways rather than the slower, but shorter A259 coastal route. The A259 would be in effect one road with about half a mile at each end off from it!

The TomTom suggested that the route was 100 miles and a fraction short of two hours.  The ETA around half an hour before check-in opened.

We decided to stop off at Clacket Lane services and get a McCafe and use the McWifi. 

My phone was playing up from around Maidstone on the M20 or that was when we noticed it.  We were looking for the SMS the site had sent about the fast check-in. My phone has no signal at all but Claire's was a decent 5G.

In the end we parked up quite easily in the marked caravan spaces.  Maybe a snack with coffee?  Okay, a couple of volcanic apple pies.....

In the end for a Friday late morning the traffic wasn't too bad. The M25 can be a bit  on the dangerous side. Luckily traffic was free flowing and there were no problems.

We finally arrived at the reception around 1.25pm.  There were some vehicles in the reception line and one of the wardens beckoned us forward to the fast check-in. The anpr reader opens the barrier.

We had a drive around and found a pitch, 113, and set up. As we had the voucher for the free night we needed to go back to reception and tell them the pitch we were on and claim the cash back for the second night.

When we got there the warden on the computer said we had been allocated pitch 144. We didn't get an SMS to say that. As we passed we did see a cone marking 144 as taken.  In the end it would have been a shorter walk to the loos and the entrance.

On the way back we checked with the food stall, Chez Francois, about the menu. We thought maybe a pizza for dinner.

Lunch was a couple of Sheldon's bottom of the oven muffins and corned beef. 

With the sun out but still chilly, we togged up and set off for a walk to the Marina. It's easy enough to find and a slog downhill.  In the car park by Asda we saw another white Malibu.

We had a wander around and then settled for another McCafe!  Whilst there we were checking out the buses for the following day.  

The walk back was a bit more of a slog as it's uphill all the way!

Later we were down to the café and bought two pizzas. Excellent they were too.

Saturday

We up and on the way out just after 10.30am for the walk to meet either the #1 or #7 bus from near to the Lidl nearby. On the way across East Brighton Park we met a couple with two Scottish Terriers, When we got the #1 they were already on it....

The journey wasn't all that scenic as the route runs parallel to the seafront and past the hospital.  We got off at Old Steine.  The plan was to check out the pavillion and then the Laines.

We ended up at the pier. A coffee in a really nice shop in North Laine before more walking.

The bus app was helpful in finding an easier stop to walk to and cutting the walking.  Again the choice was the #1 or #7. This time we got on the #7. Our Kent bus passes meant we didn't have to pay the fares.

Again, the walk back was a little strenuous, even though it was only half the way from the Marina to the van!

Dinner was sweet and sour chicken left over from a day in the week.

Sunday

No stopping today,apart from Asda at the Marina. We saw on Friday that fuel was some 10p a litre less than at home.  The pump was set to dispense a maximum of £99.   A £99.08 the pump stopped. Not full.  We had been running on the French super diesel bought on the way home in October.

From there we basically retraced the journey from Friday. The same route in reverse. 

Another weekend over.