8.5 miles walked today
760 miles walked in total (11.17 average)
I awoke with the alarm at seven o'clock and, amazingly, I could hear no rain on the caravan roof. However, at eight o'clock, I could hear pheasants honking and clog dancing on the roof so decided it was really time I should be getting up. Sure enough, when I looked out of the window, there were half a dozen of the stupid things taking off and landing on our makeshift runway.
I was parked and ready to walk at 9.45 am. It's been very grey all day, although with no wind, but it's been cold - the temperature gauge in my car registered 6.5 degrees.
I was on roads to begin with past Browndown MOD Training Base, but soon got on to the prom into Lee-on-Solent, which had fabulous views to Freshwater or Cowes on the Isle of Wight (I couldn't make it out from the angle on my map!), back to Ryde and not so fabulous views over to the oil refinery at Hythe, just past Southampton.
I've seen canoes this morning - the sea's been very calm - jet skis, huge freighter ships steering a course past the Isle of Wight to who knows where, fishermen, kites being flown, hundreds of dogs being walked, a helicopter, two hovercraft parked up and a man swimming! What a nutter! I watched in amazement and when he came out of the water, he was bright fuchsia pink. Can't say I'm surprised.
There were loads of people out again - one lady laughed at my squeaky boots as I went past - I could never creep up on anyone in these old boots! And another couple stopped to ask whether I wasn't freezing as I sat on the prom to write my diary - they were all togged up in hats, coats, gloves and scarves. Little did they know I'd got long johns on, two pairs of socks, thermal teeshirt and long sleeved walking teeshirt under my fleece. So, no, I wasn't cold!
At Hill Head, I met an old boy walking along the beach. He told me he was eighty-six and lived in a "lovely nursing home" there. Apparently, he's the only resident that can still get around and he has a walk every day. The only thing he misses is his old dog - his collie was looked after by the RSPCA when the old boy went into hospital, but, when he came out, he went straight into the nursing home and never got his dog back. The RSPCA informed him that his dog never stopped missing his "Dad" and died of a broken heart in his sleep at the age of eleven.
My new friend had come out today with bread for the birds, but they'd been so well fed by locals that they weren't hungry any more. He said he enjoyed life and was very comfortable and well looked after. I guess that's all any of us can hope for.
Past Hill Head, I had a short stretch along shingle, before heading up the cliff to walk along the (very boggy) footpath. I saw (and heard) lots of oyster catchers which is always guaranteed to lift the spirits. The path ended up skirting a new caravan park - Solent Breezes - but I thought I'd be able to cheat and walk through. No such luck, so I ended up backtracking to get round the site and then out to the path again, which went through the Hook Park Nature Reserve to Warsash, where I stopped at the Rising Sun for lunch, just by the ferry point to Hamble.
I've really enjoyed today - I got quite cold towards the end of the walk, but, overall, it's been good walking weather. Yes, a very good day indeed.
