748.5 miles walked in total (11.34 average)
After a quick detour via the laundrette, I was parked at Fort Cumberland and ready to walk at 9.45 am. There had been much rejoicing when I woke up this morning that it wasn't raining - I've been convinced for two weeks now that the caravan was on the verge of setting sail.
Walking past Fort Cumberland was very thought provoking - I'd worked there for two years so am quite familiar with the area. Loads has changed - the flats that were being built back then are now finished and occupied and everything looks generally tidier.
I got out onto the prom and it wasn't long before I had to stop and attend to my feet. Andy has bought me new boots - Brasher Hillmasters - for Christmas. I've always aspired to owning Brasher boots. However, stomping up and down the office to try and break them in is no substitute for "proper" walking, so I'd managed to rub horrendous blisters. (Andy had also bought me a Berghaus jacket, but I was hoping that I wouldn't need a waterproof today.)
It's been a bit on the chilly side and I've worn a teeshirt, a sweatshirt and a fleece to keep the wind out.
As well as the general locality, it was also weird walking, as part of my "big plan", a route I used to walk to work occasionally when Mick, our works manager, needed the pick up truck after I'd finished my working hours! Mind you, these walks were usually done very briskly with much cursing, swearing and black looks!
I passed all the clubs that had been our haunts on nights out and where much madness and mayhem had occurred, not the least being Andy dancing in just his underpants on one of our first clubbing nights out. This was before I got together with him and I was so impressed that I snogged his best mate!
At the Pyramids, a part club/ part swimming pool complex, I stopped again for more blister relief. My feet have had quite a detrimental effect on speed and miles covered today. Still, it's just great that it's dry enough to walk.
I passed the Royal Marines Museum, the bandstand, Henry VIII's 1545 castle, the D Day Museum, the hovercraft and the Victory's original anchor. A car was parking by the Royal Navy War Memorial and three men and a woman emerged, the men wearing black suits and medals, and the woman holding a wreath. I'd forgotten that tomorrow is Remembrance Sunday. It was a very personal moment for them so I moved away before the wreath was laid.
This contrasted with the next stretch which went right through Southsea Fair. What a nightmare!
Rope Walk is a millennium project which follows the sea wall, past the Royal Garrison Church, around Old Portsmouth to Spice Island and up to the cathedral. So much history.
I love Portsmouth and will be very sorry when I eventually have to leave here. From the cathedral, it was a short stretch past Gun Wharf and to the Gosport ferry, where I decided to call it a day. I hopped on the ferry and headed into Gosport for lunch before heading back to my car.
Sore feet and Portsmouth harbour stopped play!
