After the 10k race at Victoria Country park in May 2014 and my wander around the military cemetery, it was tempting to walk back to the car with Commando and go straight home. It was warm and the sun was beating down on my head. That hadn’t been the plan though so he walked one way and I walked the other. He was headed for the car park while I was on my way to the sea, or what passes for sea around here. Continue reading Back to the sea, sort of – first published 18 May 2014
On the Saturday night after my May 2014 battle with the Itchen Navigation I was trying hard to plot a short walk that didn’t involve the river. After all the mud and wet feet I’d had quite enough of the Itchen for a little while. Hamble came to mind but it was further than I wanted to go, Millers Pond wasn’t far enough. The old walls were a possibility with maybe a look at the work being done on Town Quay. Then Commando said he was thinking of driving out to the New Forest for a run…of course I jumped at the chance to go with him and have a wander. Continue reading Oh I do like to be beside the sea, Milford on Sea – first published 11 May 2014
I’m always thankful that I live near the sea. There’s something about the sound of crashing waves and the taste of salt in the air that can’t be beaten. It may not be a beach of golden sands, with palm trees swaying and the sun beating down but, some days, the shore calls to me and, when it does, it have to listen. In early March 2014, I did just that. Continue reading The call of the sea – first published 6 March 2014
5 July 2015
Finally I was on the beach with waves crashing onto the sand, sail boats and the ever present Needles in the distance. Although I didn’t know it at the time, I’d left Barton on Sea behind and this was actually Highcliffe on Sea. Not only that but, I’d left Hampshire and was now in Dorset. For a moment or two I stood relishing the slight sea spray on my face and looked back the way I’d come. From the beach it was easy to see the extent of the landslip and it was obvious I’d never have been able to walk along the beach even if I’d been unwise enough to try. Continue reading Hampshire, Dorset and a smugglers trail
5 July 2015
On Saturday night Commando announced he was going ‘somewhere different,’ for his Sunday run and did I want to come along. There is only one answer to those kind of invitations because Commando is good at coming up with interesting venues.
“Where were you thinking of going?” I asked.
“You’ll find out when we get there,” was the cryptic answer.
After the bright sun and blue skies of the day before it was slightly disappointing to wake to an overcast sky and a cool morning. Even so I filled a water bottle with ice, grabbed my rucksack and my mac and got in the car feeling a little excited. Continue reading Magical mystery tour with roads to nowhere
30 June 2015
Once I’d left the jetty behind it was back to the meandering trail Which led me through the dappled shade at the edge of Hamble Common to a sign that warned of erosion ahead. At first I was in two minds whether to risk the crumbling path but the bank seemed low, at least at first, and the alternative of walking on the shingle wasn’t very appealing. Ahead I could see the masts of boats and what I thought was Hamble Point. It didn’t look too far so I chose danger over slog. Continue reading grasses, guns and good news