Tag: Winchester

Cheese Hill

image

29 May 2016

When I left Abbey Gardens I had half a mind to wander up to the cathedral to see some of the things CJ and I missed last time. The trouble was I hadn’t bought my ticket with me. Besides, it seemed too nice a day to be inside. In the end I wandered off in the opposite direction, towards City Bridge and The Weirs. For a spilt second I considered visiting City Mill. It’s been on my list for ages but it didn’t look open and I wanted to get some sun while I could. You never know with English weather. Continue reading Cheese Hill

Winchester, abbeys, gardens. a celebrity chef and a king

image

29 May 2016

When Commando said he was thinking of volunteering as a pacer for the Winchester Half Marathon I was pleased. It would give me a couple of hours to wander around the city while he ran. Early this morning there was a practice run for the would be pacers and, of course, it was too good an opportunity for me to miss so I tagged along.  We arrived in Winchester before the sun had had a chance to chase away the last of the morning mist.  Continue reading Winchester, abbeys, gardens. a celebrity chef and a king

The final miles

image

24 May 2016

So there we were on the Itchen Navigation somewhere between Shawford and Compton Lock with a bull blocking the path ahead. Just as we were about to turn around and walk back to Shawford to catch the train home the bull took a few steps, reaching for some more succulent leaves. Suddenly there was a gap between his huge posterior and the edge of the path. It wasn’t the widest gap and, being mostly filled by bull, it looked a little dicey but it was now or never.
I turned to CJ and said, “let’s go. Quickly but don’t run.” Continue reading The final miles

worry and windmills – first published 10 October 2013

I’d love to take credit for this beautiful photo of turbine construction taken by William Hall
I’d love to take credit for this beautiful photo of turbine construction taken by William Hall

Something almost everyone does is worry too much. We all have those wake in the night moments where something goes round and round in our head and seems like the worst problem in the world. Night time worries are the worst of the lot because everything seems very bleak in the wee small hours. Usually, by morning, when we wake bleary eyed, perspective is regained and we wonder why we blew it all out of proportion. Back in October 2013 my big, wake in the night worry was about my job and how I was going to get another one. Continue reading worry and windmills – first published 10 October 2013

The out of town rhinos – first published 22 September 2013

The rhinos come to Southampton from https://www.facebook.com/GoRhinos/?fref=ts
The rhinos arrive in Southampton from https://www.facebook.com/GoRhinos/

The Go Rhinos trail officially ended on 22 September 2013. All the beautiful, colourful rhinos that had been living in our city for ten weeks were being rounded up and taken back to where Go Rhinos began, Marwell Wildlife at Owslebury near Winchester where there are real live rhinos. For ten weeks I’d been wandering around searching for these wonderful sculptures and I’d shared all the city rhinos. Now it was time to share the out of town rhinos. They weren’t always easy to find

Continue reading The out of town rhinos – first published 22 September 2013

Winchester with a guide – first published 11 September 2013 quote

image753

Of course, the twelve mile marker wasn’t the final piece of my September 2013 walk at all. We still had to walk to the wharf and from there to the centre of Winchester to catch the train home. Finding the train station has always been an issue for me in the past. In fact, finding anything in Winchester is a problem. This time I had a guide with me. Continue reading Winchester with a guide – first published 11 September 2013 quote

Goodbye Winchester, a riddle, a writer and a lot of interesting buildings

image

25 February 2016

Usually, I visit Winchester on foot, at least in one direction. This time, of course, I’d driven there so there was no train to catch or long walk home. There would be a walk though. With narrow, congested streets, a confusing one way system and very limited car parking I’d decided to park in Twyford. That meant a nice three mile walk each way. Continue reading Goodbye Winchester, a riddle, a writer and a lot of interesting buildings

Winchester, a flooded crypt, sensory overload and a robin

image

25 February 2016

Winchester has been the focus of many walks. From the rush of elation when I saw my turning point at the cathedral on my final Moonwalk training walk, to the lure of coffee at the end of the Itchen Navigation it has drawn me. Many times I’ve looked in awe at the massive Gothic cathedral, one of the largest in England and the longest in Europe, but I’d never been inside. An intriguing photograph on the Winchester Heritage Facebook page made me realise a visit was long overdue. The rattle of car keys alerted CJ and, when he heard what I was going to see, there was no putting him off.
Continue reading Winchester, a flooded crypt, sensory overload and a robin

Parkrun WAG – first published 20 July 2013

image351

The Saturday morning after the getting hot and bothered in Winchester and not finding a rhino,I got up early to go for a walk. Once again it was hot and muggy, although maybe not quite as muggy as it had been. So commenced the usual pre walk routine, granola, shower, dress. There had been no route planning, I had zero idea of where to go for my scheduled short walk. As I sipped my breakfast smoothie I went through possibilities in my head but I couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for any of them. For once, I just didn’t feel like going. Continue reading Parkrun WAG – first published 20 July 2013

Winchester and a rhino disappointment – first published 16 July 2013

image342

Finally I’d done it, I’d walked the whole Itchen Navigation, well as much of it as I could given stolen bridge, burst banks and bits I just couldn’t find. Now I was in Winchester and there were rhinos to hunt, well one anyway. First though, there was the little matter of working out exactly where in Winchester I was. Continue reading Winchester and a rhino disappointment – first published 16 July 2013