The sun always rises in the east.

Littlehampton via a cuppa' in Arundel  - frost and sunshine - foxes in the hen house - web shots - and fast action in a slow motion movie.

So, the forecast showed clear weather, it didn't predict the subsequent-3C, but that didn't stop the inevitability of a Sunrise Blat for the morning...the 5.45 mark on the clock was made, and the long johns straightened ready for a quick get away.The calls went out, and across Surrey and Hants four pairs of long johns would now hang in preparation.

It's been a while since a proper early morning run out (ie not raining) and finally it's light enough to take advantage of an early start and, with that, the likelihood of some clear roads... although the clocks change in a couple of weeks and we'll lose that advantage again for a while. Arse. More reason to make it a good one then!

Alarm

Check text.

Various messages along the lines of  'Are we really going?' or 'By jings it's parky!'  and 'You bastard' ... (that wasn't delivered by text) but we're all still in.

At the usual BP meeting point the early-shift staff were still straightening out papers and propping up wilting flower stems whilst we fuelled up. Despite the activity, they still had the where-with-all to suggest that 'sir might like a frapper cuppa latte' or suchlike 'for the journey'...the drinking opportunity behind the wheel of a screenless 7 is at best limited, but in the company of three other 7's with breakfast ambitions 70 miles away, there would be no room for such a challenge!

Next planned stop: Midhurst for a requested nature break...the temperatures shortened that expected range for one of us ... to 15 minutes.Turning south east towards the rising sun meant a moment's halt to retrieve sunglasses, and for one, a frost melting moment in the hedgerow.

South and East into the low sun.

Low temperatures and low grip on cold road race tyres.

Patches of white on the grey asphalt... too late passed them.

The dive downhill at Steep, the speed signs warning 10mph, also too late.The switchbacks taken at a drift angle, neither expected nor regretted.

Challenging then, but ,with deep blue sky overhead and low angled beams of light 'pin spotting' the way forward, the scene has been set as we link between villages and market towns before most kettles have boiled the day's first.

Midhurst, for that scheduled nature stop.

We're one man down, the low sun is really less than ideal , but this road needs driving and the sun always rises in the east.

A dog walker delights at the cars 'out so early' , yup, we're up with dogs.

Still frosty out there.

Bladder boy enjoys indoor public frost free facilities this time.

Back on the road: and through the cartoon bends of Cowdray Park golf course and on into Petworth. The walls of the 'House' too much of an opportunity not to explore the reflected sound of low geared high revs. The following pair harmonising the trio of course..Wakey Wakey Petworth!!

Eventually to Arundel, and the chance of a cuppa. Brooklands is a guest house run by a friend keen to attract car clubs and enthusiasts to his beautiful barn conversion.Why not have some smart machinery parked up in the courtyard instead of the usual guest transport ? This tea stop had the secondary purpose of grabbing some shots for his website... ferraris and porsches would have helped attract a better level of guest clientele, but 7's at least maintain a British theme!

The Hen Party currently in residence probably didn't expect a wake up call from 3 x 7's... and a bloke on a ladder ... how unreasonable.(The foxes have got in the hen house!) The tea was good, and the facilities 'particularly comfortable' according to the Bladder.The pool looked nice too, but my Speedos were 65 miles away.

A short drive to Littlehampton, and the Cafe was open, breakfast ensued and ballast restored for the run home. We lingered a while though in the sunshine, the spring tide offering a glimpse of this toy for the sea:

Vid clip (click)

Incongruity amongst the usual fishing and pleasure craft of this old south coast resort.

By now it's 10.30, the slow motion pace of the day's traffic has begun. I set some music in the 'phones to stun the senses from the Micra's and Yaris's. It doesn't work, there's only one pace deserving of a 7, and an endless series of triple leap frog overtakes has us back on home territory in 45 mins...ready now to begin the day as well adjusted and responsible adults!

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