A Bank Holiday Seafront Wander

Living close to sea level means that many of us have to walk uphill to reach many of our destinations, unless we walk along the seafront 😉 At Bulverhythe.

The Azur/St Leonards beach huts have returned from their winter retreat (blog).

Hastings diminishing beach-launched fishing fleet; I've written about Hastings fishing industry a number of times, eg blog.

At Rock-a-Nore with very green water; I'm guessing due to algae... 

Indeed, it was a very pleasant walk this morning, cheers folks!

Hastings Saturday and Latest...

A few bits and pieces I've picked up from following social media and the internet, and from chatting to people from a very respectable social distancing... First, from up here on the East Hill, no! I'll leave that for later, so? On the way up the 2 hundred plus steps, I noticed at least one fishing boat was out, but also a couple preparing to launch (and another I saw later when I was at Firehills on my daily walk/exercise), my respect!

A little birdy told me this morning that Hastings Fishermen's Museum has plans for reopening in August, all being well, and I just looked at their website and noticed that, although the Old Hastings Preservation Society guided walks of the Stade and the Old Town, are gradually being cancelled, they're still keeping them alive, so, presumably, August may see their return too... perhaps?

The Hastings Adventure Golf reopened yesterday as I advised in a recent blog, and I was told by another, not so little, birdy that it started off slowly, but picked up late afternoon. Good luck to them, I think they'll have their work cut out ensuring social distancing rules etc are maintained today and tomorrow, when visitors to Hastings will very likely increase in number, despite the lack of open facilities, notably toilets...

I saw Jonathan too, and he said that Martin's funeral yesterday was well attended, considering, I didn't know Martin very well, but still sad at his demise, other friends did attend the crematorium up on The Ridge, Mark, Maureen and Laura; R.I.P. Martin...

Oh yes, the 'rave' last night, or the "planned massed gathering on the East Hill" as Hastings Police put it on their twitter feed, appears to have gone ahead, before 06.00 this morning I saw a group of reasonably mature looking, certainly not 'rave' types, tidying up the rubbish left behind, many thanks to them. Comments on the feed suggests that there were at least 4 police cars and probably 8 police officers in attendance, but I haven't been able to find out yet if there were any arrests, or on-the-spot fines handed out. If I find out I shall share the information, I just had a look at the Sussex Police website News Search, and nothing there either, yet.

So, batten down the hatches and prepare for another weekend of madness, or go out and enjoy the sun (maintaining social distancing of course), delete as appropriate, whatever, do be careful and look after yourselves folk!

What can We do from today then?

Well, we can get out a bit more, taking into consideration the new Coronavirus Rules (for England) announced by the Government (website). As you can tell from the above image, I was out bright and early this morning, as were many of the local fishing industry, and I have it on good authority that about 18 fishing boats are still licensed to launch from the beach here, though I doubt they're all doing so at the moment...

OK, back to what has changed then? 

• So, you may exercise outdoors as many times a day as you wish, providing you keep to the 2 metre social distancing guidelines already in place;
• You may arrange to meet a friend or family member, that is ONE friend or family member, who lives outside your household, as long as you meet outdoors and follow the usual social distancing 2 metre guidelines;
• Indeed, you may spend as much time as you like outdoors, even if only sitting down and soaking up the sun (but be careful of burning, Factor 50 for me!), providing you follow the now usual social distancing rules;
• You may now go to a Garden Centre (remembering to keep to social distancing of at least 2 metres of course);
• You may use outdoor sports and social facilities, eg play golf, providing it is with members of your own household, or with just the ONE other person, who you must keep at least 2 metres apart from.  

I am a wee bit concerned that, with more people about, some walking long distances, there will be a toilet shortage, as in, public toilets are closed, as are pubs etc...

So where did I walk to then, maintaining social distancing at all times during my walk, of course? The top photograph shows where I started from and came back to, Hastings (well that was the western tip of the Country Park, but I actually started and finished in the town centre where I live), AND I left the Borough of Hastings for the first time in 2 months! As I said, walking from the most westerly edge of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve to the most easterly edge, I left Hastings for a few minutes, just so I could say I did, and came back into Hastings via the gate in the photograph immediately above (thankfully no border guards to question my intent), then heading back home, and with lovely weather, a bit chilly but bright sunshine early doors.

Remember, other rules (website) continue as before...

That's me, a daredevil, but whatever, do be careful folks!