Southlands campsite Saturday 23.4.22

We walked down to Newchurch last night, the village nearest to the campsite 

I started with mild cold symptoms on Thursday and tested negative on LFTs on both Thursday and Friday , however as my cold symptoms persisted, I tested this morning and the LFT indicated a strong positive result.The campsite has given us a full refund and we can claim back the  ferry booking costs .We have booked on a ferry crossing tonight where it's possible to stay in your vehicle and then we will make our way home less than 24 hours after we arrived in the IoW .The weather has turned cold and overcast here .
 

Sandown Isle of Wight Friday 22.4.22

Sad to leave our E Brighton Campsite 😞

An  hour ferry ride across the Solent from Southampton to Cowes 

Red Funnel ferry 

Chilly ! 

I'm fascinated taking  framed photos 

And anything red/ orange 

We are parked up at  Southland CCC, 30 mins south from Cowes .The campsite is very quiet and in the middle of nowhere, bikes very necessary. . I'm recovering from a cold, shivering fits   and a  cough today , so appreciating  the time to rest. 
 

Rottingdean Saltdean Brighton 21.4.22

Feeling very happy about completing  14 k on the  coastal cycle path with power on level one , the first  time for many years I've been able to keep pace with Andy 

A very flat wide  cycle path at the bottom of the cliffs , from Brighton to Rottingdean and then Saltdean completed  in  glorious sunshine. The path  ends here. I'm gaining confidence riding the electric ( adapted) bike. 

 Saltdean has a sea water lido due to open for the first time on 23 May. 

We went swimming in the sea in Brighton (30 min walk from the campsite) for 15 mins in our wet suits Exhilarating but painful on the feet coming out  with steep shingle and pebbles  

Brighton walks Wednesday 20 April 2022

Pleasant evening at Brighton Buddhist Centre , listening to a Sangha talk on  the first stage of the Metta Bhavana meditation practice- Self - Metta ( loving kindness ) 

Another carousel🙂

 A walk above the campsite by the golf and race course 

Followed by a leisurely  lunch at the sunny campsite and a tea- time walk into Brighton to visit the Brighton Buddhist Centre Sangha evening, led by Dyotana on self  loving -kindness. Andy and I were made very welcome .

Brighton Pier, Brighton Pavillion and The Lanes, Tuesday 19 April 2022

Paper gown in Brighton Pavilion with a cut out section showing a theatre hall.

Andy waited ages for a coffee..

George IV dining hall where he entertained his many mistresses 

Bankrupted himself with fixtures and fittings, had to agree to marry , in exchange for the Government agreeing to settle his debts 

Axminster carpet with large sunflower design 

He loved his fittings 🙂

 Here is the theatre in the gown below

Welcome to the Pleasure Dome !

GeorgeIV  deliberately furnished the entrance hall in a drab style to create surprise for his guests when they entered sumptuously decorated rooms beyond 

Quasi Indian/ Mogul/ mix of architecture  by John Nash favoured regency architect in Brighton during George IVs reign . Chinoiserie furnishings and ornaments inside 

A busy day sightseeing in Brighton city centre, a stroll along the Pier , with a great fun fair at the end, log flumes! carousels!  a visit to the  George IV 's  Pleasure Pavillion, with costumes made entirely of paper and a wander around the independent shops in the Lanes , with  delicious falafel and roasted veg pitta breads , from the indoor market, and Brazilian  coffee and lemon  cannoli from Joliffes in North Laine area to sustain us. 

A sun -filled walk along the front back to the campsite 

Brighton/ Isle of Wight Monday 18 April 2022

Brighton Marina 

 Set off from home at 1.00pm. Sunny, event - free 5 hour drive south on Bank Holiday Monday. East Brighton  C and C campsite is situated at the top of a hill, overlooking the  Brighton marina , a 20 minute walk down hill to a  very built up, run down area , wasteland , container park , concrete ramps and subways  leading to an enormous Asda and a series of  chain restaurants situated  around the marina itself with gated flat developments above them. No access to the sea front.A helicopter circled above , even after night fell.

We ate at Pizza Hut, near the Casino  and afterwards slowly climbed back up  the big  hill , wending our way back in the the dark  , through a  park area , and along unlit lanes to the camp site .This is one of the most expensive we have ever stayed on.Its a short bus ride (10 minutes) and an hour's  walk along the front to Brighton city centre.