The Halloween Ramble joining instructions

OK guys, only one more week to go.

The 09:25 from Seaford is on schedule and the return trains from Berwick are still running at 17 minutes past the hour.

The only significant alteration is that the Cricketers is changing to winter opening hours and will close at 15:00 hrs.

Sorry you can't be with us Tony, enjoy Spain!

See you next Monday!

Froggy x

October's Joining Instructions

OK you lucky Nerds, you get me for this month's route-mastering and as the backwards Beachy Head Ramble was such a success in June 2014, we are going to do another of my favourites in reverse. This will involve the 4 Sussex pubs; the Barley Mow, the Rose Cottage, the Cricketers and the Berwick Inn in that order. The first pub opens at 11:00 and there are 2 suitable arrivals at Berwick station at 10:20 and 11:17. Methinks the former is best for a bijou 40 minute stroll towards Selmeston. The Rose Cottage has new owners though not new opening times. Still it might be nice to sample the new menu before the kitchen closes?

The train leaves Seaford at 09:25 (Bishopstone 09:27 and Newhaven Town 09:32). There should be time to meet Harry at 09:45 in the Runaway and grab a coffee before the 10:09 from platform 3.
I shall keep an eye out for any railway misdemeanours and confirm arrangements nearer to the 31st, after all there are 3 weeks to go today and anything can happen!

Froggy x

the really good news is that all 4 pubs will be open this way around!

October's Ramble date for 2016

The Ramble is on the 31st Of October this year and is a Froggy Enterprise.  Joining instructions will follow in due course.

September's Write-up 2016

NEWHAVEN RAMBLING & DRINKING SOCIETY



Ramble No 322 Wednesday 14th September



“ The Return of the NOBS Ramble”



NERDS Present: Curly, Matt, Froggy, Paco The Bish, Sandyballs

NOBS Present: Lafayette



First, a word of explanation. Since its inception in the middle of the 18th Century, the NERDS has spawned a number of spin-off organisations. Most of these were either still-born or withered away and died shortly after birth. I could mention NIGS, NAGS, NIGERIA, SCOFFERS, STROLLERS, CLUB CORONA, etc. In passing it would only be fair to mention 2 organisations which still, apparently, exist but which are a pale imitation of the magnificent NERDS. I refer to CORDS and The DARK SIDE.

Anyway, one of these short-lived sub-organisations, which also crashed and burned was the NOBS. Which stood for NERDS ON BIKES. As it says on the tin this involved various NERDS wobbling about the countryside on their bicycles visiting various hostelries. As your Scribe can testify, imbibing alcohol and riding bikes is not always a good idea………

The plan was for the NERDS to walk to Rodmell from the north, whilst Lafayette would join us, by bike, from the south. Part of Laf’s unusual health syndrome was that he couldn’t walk but he could cycle. So he would be the only representative of the NOBS amidst a group of NERDS.

Anyway, back to the plot. NERDS gathered at Lewes station (despite the best efforts of Southern Rail to frustrate us)

. It was a beautiful warm day and the sun was shining brightly. We are not used to this in September. .Because of the slightly early arrival of the train/bus we thought there was plenty of time to have a pit-stop pint at The Brewers.

After all, your Routemaster/ Scribe reasoned, the lunch-time pub The Abergavenny Arms at Rodmell didn’t open until 12 noon and it wasn’t very far to Rodmell, was it?

Predicitably, the pint turned into a pint and a half

(two pints from some thirsty types) so it was a little after 11 am before we emerged from The Brewers and rolled down Keere Street

to begin the ramble. We walked through the leafy banlieue of Southover under the A27 by-pass and into the real countryside.

SB had a vague idea that the path led down to the river Ouse which we would follow until we reached Southover and then Rodmell. It ddn’t quite work out that way……….As usual, he hadn’t done any recce for this ramble – after all Lewes is my town. What could possibly go wrong?

The sun was beating down from a cloudless sky.

NERDS were getting hot and bothered. The path meandered on somewhere between the river and the C7 but we weren’t exactly sure where we were. The heat was increasing, it felt like we were in some African savannah.

The foaming pints seemed a long way off.

Laf kept phoning up asking where the f…….we were. Of course we had no idea. Laf said he would have another pint and carry on sunbathing.

Our path led through fields, over stiles, through cow-pats and stinging nettles.

Eventually we believed we had reached Rodmell but it was only Northease and we emerged onto the C7. There followed an enjoyable mile long walk along the pavement-free main road, dodging the incoming traffic. So at last the fair hamlet of Rodmell came into view. We found Laf lying on his back in the garden under the table, giggling uncontrollably surrounded by empty beer flagons. Yes, our walk had taken a bit longer than we thought!

NERDS set to doing what they do best – sinking pints and ordering pub grub.

There was a substantial delay in the wait for food so we sat in the sun and drank. The food, when it arrived was judged to be good.

So NERDS approved for The Abergavenny Arms then.

Conversation turned to the date of the next ramble. Because of holidays and other commitments we finally decided on MONDAY October 31st. Yes, Halloween night! The first time for The NERDS. Plenty of scope for dressing-up there. Trick or Treat, etc. Froggy had been clamouring to route master another ramble so it was decided, God help us, to allow him another chance.

He will have to be aware of the complication of Laf’s condition,so maybe the walk will have to be centred around some location that Laf can get to by bike, bus or train. Or his situation may well ameliorate. Froggy over to you!

The ramble broke up in some confusion. Laf wobbled off on his velo, Mrs Sandyballs drove to the pub to collect SB to fulfil onerous domestic tasks and the others went off in search of a bus.

All in all, an enjoyable, sunny, sociable time.. The Scribe can congratulate the Routemaster on an excellent ramble!!

I am off to recruit and organise a new branch of The NERDS in NYC!



Sandyballs