We returned to Coventry Museum to collect the car and was
told by Megan Ness, the curator, that the exhibition was a real success and their
visitor numbers were substantially up. We moved the car to the outside display
area along with around 70 other vehicles as it coincided with their monthly breakfast meet and Open Day which was much appreciated by the locals. The Stapletons brought their roadster along too and we had lunch with them at Nando's before driving home in tandem.
The following day we had to take the car back to Southend to
get the radiator changed. We went to the A602’s breakfast meet at The
Shuttleworth Collection first. The heaven’s opened and we sat and sat waiting
for the rain to pass through but it didn’t so in the end we had to brave it. We took the cross country route via Bishop's Stortford and Chelmsford but
it
wasn’t a pleasant journey and in the end the roof could no longer contain the
water and we were heavily dripped on. At least the radiator held out for the duration. The weather cleared just before we
reached Southend (where it had been fine all day!) We had booked a two night stay at the Radisson overlooking the pier at a great Secret Escapes price of £69 per night, while the car was being fixed. It was in need of a little TLC but the breakfast was lovely and the rooms comfortable, quiet with friendly staff so what more do you need?
After checking in we intended to walk along the pier but it was closing so ventured along Marine Parade to our favourite ex Public Lavoratory- the Ocean Beach. The town was pretty busy and we decided on a pub crawl to get us back to our hotel- stopping off at the Borough Arms where the landlord was miserable, then passing by several pubs which were lacking in clientele until we got to"The Hope"and this place was rocking even though it was only 5 o'clock in the afternoon. We squeezed into a seat in an ideal position for one of our favourite pastimes - people watching and we were well rewarded. Everyone seemed to be single, ages varying from twenties to fifties though I suspect some were younger than they looked and could do with an urgent visit to the dentist. I am only mocking gently because everyone was having a marvellous time, they were friendly and harming no one - singing and swaying to the mostly 50's music when the DJ was playing. Then it cranked up another gear when a band came on singing a variety of songs with everyone joining in. My life was complete when everyone joined in to Chas n Dave's "Rabbit". Only in Southend! We finished up in Wetherspoon's which is situated in the old post office and a had been given a nice conversion.
After dropping the car off at Jon's on Monday morning we proceeded to walk all the way to Shoeburyness, at least 7 miles along the coast. (after once again failing to walk the pier- it's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays!), passing some of the posher houses in Southend and marvelling at the old Shoebury Garrison which dates back to the Napoleanic era. All the old buildings have been restored, modernised and sold as housing. Haines Phillips, the architects, should be justly proud of themselves for this achievement.
After checking in we intended to walk along the pier but it was closing so ventured along Marine Parade to our favourite ex Public Lavoratory- the Ocean Beach. The town was pretty busy and we decided on a pub crawl to get us back to our hotel- stopping off at the Borough Arms where the landlord was miserable, then passing by several pubs which were lacking in clientele until we got to"The Hope"and this place was rocking even though it was only 5 o'clock in the afternoon. We squeezed into a seat in an ideal position for one of our favourite pastimes - people watching and we were well rewarded. Everyone seemed to be single, ages varying from twenties to fifties though I suspect some were younger than they looked and could do with an urgent visit to the dentist. I am only mocking gently because everyone was having a marvellous time, they were friendly and harming no one - singing and swaying to the mostly 50's music when the DJ was playing. Then it cranked up another gear when a band came on singing a variety of songs with everyone joining in. My life was complete when everyone joined in to Chas n Dave's "Rabbit". Only in Southend! We finished up in Wetherspoon's which is situated in the old post office and a had been given a nice conversion.
After dropping the car off at Jon's on Monday morning we proceeded to walk all the way to Shoeburyness, at least 7 miles along the coast. (after once again failing to walk the pier- it's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays!), passing some of the posher houses in Southend and marvelling at the old Shoebury Garrison which dates back to the Napoleanic era. All the old buildings have been restored, modernised and sold as housing. Haines Phillips, the architects, should be justly proud of themselves for this achievement.
Back in Southend via the bus we sat outside the Hope on this glorious sunny day for a drink before crossing the road to the Beach Bistro and Bar for another before the obligatory Fish and Chips at Ye Old Chippy.
Tuesday was overcast and windy but that didn't stop us walking the 4+ miles the other way along the coast past Westcliffe on Sea to Old Leigh on Sea which is a lovely, quaint old fashioned fishing village and the complete antithesis of Southend. By the time we walked back and had a spot of lunch at the Beach Bistro, it was time for our taxi back to Jon's and a trouble free drive home to Bedford.
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