Day 225 A trip well away from London to do a No 342.

The day started by use of a bus to East Croydon and there we just managed to get the 1010 train to Eastbourne and Ore-thankfully it was almost two minutes late. We remained on the train until Hastings which was reached at 1200. Here we left the train and had a walk around particularly visiting the Old Town unfortunately in the rain.

A nice set of semaphore signals at eastern end of
Hastings station with Charing Cross train waiting to leave

Old Town in the rain

Nice nook in the Old Town

    

Bayeux Tapestry in tiles tunnel to Old Town

Our train arriving for Ashford International

We returned to the railway station for the 1425 train to Ashford International which took just over twenty minutes to reach Rye where we the passed the train going the other way. I noted the last time I got out here you walked across the track, now you are forced to cross over the track on a bridge. We then walked into town and spent just under a hour looking around.

The 1558, the only No 342 to go to Hastings

Typical Olde Worlde street in Rye

Bus terminus with Rye station behind

Hang over from Covid it says
 'Lock Down library use at your peril'

I then took Charmaine to catch the 1548 back towards Hastings whilst I waiting a further ten minutes for the No 342 bus at 1558 which runs very infrequently indeed. In fact I was concerned as to whether there would be a bus at all. The internet said the bus runs only on school days and the timetable on the display for bus stop D suggested it didn't run on school days.

Stagecoach 36490 arrives as a No 313

However, before departure it morphed into a
No 342

Two pounds to go all the way

A bus pulled up at 1555 with 313 displayed upon it but there wasn't a No 313 due so I hoped the number would be changed and that did happen and at 1558 I was aboard Stagecoach 36490 with No 342 displayed outside it.

Typical scenery looking over River Tillingham
valley

Bus shelter at Broad Oak

The bus turned right out of the station approach and then right again to follow the B2089 over the River Tillingham and then up the hill called Udimore Road. We were soon out of town passing many fields with new born lambs of Romney Sheep.  There is a dip as we ran into Udimore at 1608 and the bus then following the same road to intercept the A28 at Broad Oak Brede. There were lots of picturesque cottages and homes, some thatched, some tiled and here and there oast houses, too. 

Very murky windows made for difficult photographs.
This is Cackle Street

Entering Westfield

Had to take this The Village Store Westfield!!!

The bus took the A28, turning left for Hastings and after Cackle Street headed downwards so as to cross over the River Brede and then climbed up to reach a village called Westfield at 1617. The final school child alighted as we approached Baldslow along the A28, although it was labelled Westfield Lane. I was the only passenger until the next stop when a gentlemen got on. This was just before where we met the A21 and as we took that left we soon entered the outskirts of Hastings. It was also where the Hastings local fare zone appeared to apply from. There was, for the first time, slow traffic as we passed the superstore heading in the direction of town. However, the bus had to use this road going south to be able to go east as there was no connection until Harrow Lane to reach Baldslow. The other passenger got off in Harrow Lane and at Baldslow we turned right, so as to be able to head east to the Conquest Hospital along the road called The Ridge. 

Junction of A21 and A28. Why Sevenoaks gets
 a mention and not Tunbridge Wells or Tonbridge

Looking north up the A21 only London and Sevenoaks given mileages

Other buses at the Conquest Hospital

We picked a number of passengers at the hospital and another by St Helens cemetery at which the bus turned right and headed down Elphinstone Road which was a 1 in 7 gradient. The next turning left was Orchiltree Road which took us to Pilot Road and after heading along this we went right along Hoads Wood Road which returned us to Elphinstone Road. Turning right and following downhill we passed Hughenden Road and terminated at 1645.

Journey's End Elphinstone Road/Hughenden Road

Bus heading off out of service

From here I walked up Mount Pleasant Road expecting to find some indication of Ore Station. I then took the left Broomgrove Road expecting to find access to the station. There was none and as I reached a bridge I could see the station to my left. I thus continued around to the other side of the track and followed Fellows Road, and then Parker Road which led to Hughenden Road. Climbing up this I saw a BR sign indicating the station which was strangely out of view from Mount Pleasant Road.

Nice rock plant on my 360
 degree walk around the station

 I reached Ore station over half an hour after getting on the bus and caught the 1722 train back to East Croydon arriving at almost the same time as our son returning from work and we caught the bus home together.