FNRttC FNRttC to Newhaven, Dieppe and Paris 2011

[srw]

Bon voyage, everyone.
Dead jealous that I'm missing this one.

Absolutely. The prospect of three hours talking to auditors and two hours reviewing quarterly results doesn't fill me with tender thoughts.

 

[User10571]

Message received from His Leggship at 09:15 hrs :

……Mice clapped in irons. 'Teef stoking. Frank has opened the ship's safe…….



So it seems like everything has gone according to plan. Even before the ship had weighed anchor.

A request was made that as they pass us non-émigrés sitting outside a (the) harbourside pub, they tear themselves away from the ship's bar and wave to us from the aft deck.

The good ship Lollypop did indeed sail as planned at 09:30 but aside from ‘Teef, Frank and Els (all of whom put in an appearance) this turned out to be a pretty poor show.
Loads of other random people waved, though. The wave liggers!

Cracking good ride down to Newhaven, though.
And a festive jelly baby as a reward to Mice for finding an excellent cafe for brekky.


Now, I must spend some time checking the insides of my eyelids.

 

[martint235]

Well that was a fantastic ride. It really should be made a regular FNRttC.

My first go at being a TEC went flawlessly, the only problem was my own broken spoke.

Thanks as usual to Simon for organising, I really did think it was great. The road surfaces surprised me more than anything, we seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time on smooth tarmac.

Congratulations to Mice for finally realising Turners Hill is no big deal.

. Seriously, well done, we'll make a climber out of you yet.

Thanks (this is recurring) to Adrian for sorting the landlubbers out with two great watering holes. The Hope is a pub I would definitely go to again. And to all the landlubbers, thanks, I didn't stop having fun long enough to regret not making the ferry!!!

Oh and I got 100.11 mileage (woohoo) and my GPS behaved absolutely flawlessly from East Croydon. It took me down roads I'd never seen before but always heading in the right direction for a change!!!

 

[wanda2010]

I also had a very good ride. The smooth roads we encountered were fab. Still hate hills but there is always a flipside to getting up them.

The watering holes were good and I enjoyed the company - thanks everyone!

Thanks for the rail ticket TheClaude. Hopefully I can return the favour one day.

I still took too much stuff that I didn't use - drat. Must try harder and use a smaller bag next time (but not the Zip roll ).

Had planned on having a shower, food then sleep but realised I'd probably not be able to sleep at my regular time, so I'm going to eat then do the laundry.

I look forward to seeing the pics eventually.

 

[Wobblers]

Back in Brum.

What a good night that was. From the near prefect weather, the police escort (!) at Gatwick, Mice conquering Turners Hill, the penny slowly dropping on Dell when we all put on knee bandages to the penny slowly dropping on Dell when TC handed over the card, cap and birthday cake!

Not to mention the two spiffing watering holes Adrian had lined up. Thanks for the company and gossip!

Now off for some sleep.

PS: you should have cycled the extra 10 miles User13710!

 

[Quagga]

Just woken up

What can i say? Another lovely ride.
The lower numbers gave it more of an intimate feel, and it certainly felt like we spent less time hanging around.

I thought the gatwick half time stop was inspired, and i've never met such polite workman who seemed completely unfazed by several bikes suddenly appearing in the middle of their floor repairs.

As others have said, excellent choice of both cafe and pub in Newhaven, the usual good company and even random idiots on the promenade suggesting we were only allowed to cycle if we were commuting (???) couldn't spoil the mood.

Next year though I'm going to get my arse in gear and get one of those exclusive ferry tickets

 

[rb58]

I can't add too much to the reports above. So, thanks to everyone for their company and to Simon for such a terrific route. I agree the smaller numbers made for a faster, more intimate and perhaps more relaxed ride. And all the pre-ride weather gloom was unfounded. Plus, that breakfast has to be one of the best at the end of a FNRttC doesn't it?

As it was a Thursday night, not a Friday, I felt under no obligation to undertake the SMRbtH - it wasn't Saturday after all. So, the leisurely beer in good company, basking in the sunshine, waving off the ferryistas, the wander along the coastal path to Brighton and the super speedy train back to Croydon fitted the bill perfectly.

And, like Quagga, I too felt a moment of envy watching that ferry disappear over the horizon and will also try and do better next year. Have fun you lucky people.

Cheers

Ross

 

[Flying Dodo]

That is a brilliant set of photos. Sums up the ethos of a FNRttC - having a good time and then feeling a bit tired and confused at the end.

 

[ceepeebee]

there's always this:

apparently it actually works!

looks like it was a great ride, well done all. And happy birthday SL!

 

[theclaud]

But tis true! Not that long ago cycling was banned on the undercliff, but local groups protested. Eventually the local council 'compromised' by changing the rules (a byelaw? not sure) so that cycling was allowed, but only if the cyclist was going to work! No one I've spoken to really understands how this is supposed to operate, but as I work any time I like, I assume I can cycle on the undercliff whenever I like.

By the way, it's a bit misleading to call it the 'promenade', because the real promenade that runs from Brighton to Hove is definitely NO CYCLING and is strictly policed, so I'm told, esp in the summer. The penalties are horrible.

It's Brighton - it's weird ...

It's absurd. I had a bit of a Google. I see the byelaw dates back to 1969, whereas the blues signs all over the shop indicating that cycling is permitted (with the usual caveats about speed and pedestrian priority) were installed in 2010. Go figure. None of this, of course, changes the fact that the woman who got her knickers in such a twist was a complete arse. Whilst going about my Googling I noticed a few references to anti-cyclist prejudice in Rottingdean. I'm not a great fan of shared-use paths, bur that one is extremely capacious and wasn't very busy - I must admit that I found the people on that path an unusually surly bunch...

 

[StuartG]

The advance guard has reached Paris and forced the first bar to close. Awaiting arrival of second division (Teef, Miranda, Titus & Frank) to buy supper.

Weather brilliant except for a little two hour 'shower' late morning.

 

[theclaud]

Tubbs' distrust of strangers and her protectiveness toward "the precious things of the shop" is apparently based on a shopkeeper in Rottingdean.

Fantastic!

 

[theclaud]

The advance guard has reached Paris and forced the first bar to close. Awaiting arrival of second division (Teef, Miranda, Titus & Frank) to buy supper.

Weather brilliant except for a little two hour 'shower' late morning.

Splendid going! Hope you're all having a wonderful time. I wonder if Teef has hurled his panniers into a ditch yet...

 

[StuAff]

Tubbs' distrust of strangers and her protectiveness toward "the precious things of the shop" is apparently based on a shopkeeper in Rottingdean.

Indeed it is.

 

[User10571]

I must admit that I found the people on that path an unusually surly bunch...

... and yet, the more she went on, the more I found myself attracted to her abject wretchedness.

That's probably quite wrong.

Of me.