Friday
We try to choose a fairly short trip from home for our ‘early season’ caravan trips to mitigate against any sudden changes in weather, and the subsequent need to be fairly near to home. So our first destination for 2017 was the Kingfisher Caravan Park in Gosport, 90 carefree minutes down the M3.
I’d read the Trip Advisor comments after I’d booked the Caravan site but tried to keep an open mind. Unfortunately we weren’t that impressed; when we arrived the reception looked closed and when I entered through the unwelcoming façade it was like stepping into Arkwrights! The lady on reception was very friendly, but check-in was basic, no map, no information, no enticing activities (except Dave singing in the bar tomorrow night) and unfortunately the disco was last week… As our stay unfolded we were disappointed by the general neglect, cold showers and very basic amenities. Never mind, we have our own haven of luxury and we don’t plan hanging around the site.
The weather is glorious and so, after setting up camp, we ventured out onto Browndown Road and made for the beach. Although mostly pebbles, Jim soon found a sandy spot and settled into a deep cleansing back roll! The fact that it was a military area called Browndown Battery and labelled on the OS map in red as a ‘Danger Area’ did not daunt us, and we had a pleasant stroll along the beach and through gorse laden heathland.
There is a strong seafaring vibe going on with a Diving Museum just down the road. It was closed for refurbishment but there were a number of displays of scary diving equipment that looked like something out of a Jules Verne film! This was an atmospheric diving suit and it was built in Germany in 1939. Apparently it was of limited use because the joints leaked in shallow water and seized up at depth! One of these types of suits was used to recover silver and gold from the wreck of SS Egypt which sank in 1922 in 128m. The value of the bullion in today’s money was £35 million – not nearly enough to persuade me to go underwater in one!
A quick drink in the popular site bar, and then back to the van for the daily papers and a relaxing evening in front of the TV (that is surprisingly picking up most channels).
Saturday
The day dawned bright and sunny, and surprisingly warm (if you kept out of the shade and wind!).
Our usual casual morning rituals were leisurely and relaxed. A lovely breakfast sitting outside in the sun, marred only by the Man’s negative experience of the camp showers; no hot water, one hook, no soap shelf, no seat – very low scoring in the ‘Odell Shower Scoring’ matrix! I’m just grateful I can complete my ablutions in the relative comfort of our van.
We went off to Gosport to explore the town. First impressions were a bustling Saturday morning town; a lively market, running along the pedestrianized high street leading down to the harbour, and a tempting short ferry crossing across to Portsmouth with the impressive Spinnaker tower dominating the skyline. The town is a little run down though – no doubt a poor cousin to its close neighbour, but proud of a seagoing heritage with lots to do on offer in the Tourist information centre.
The Spinnaker Tower in the background is a striking seamark in Portsmouth that was completed in 2005. At 170 metres it is taller than the London Eye.
After our town visit we went back to the van to recoup before starting our walk along Stokes Bay to Gilkicker Fort; a four mile trek courtesy of i-footpath. It was very pleasant, embracing woods, parkland and beachside strolling. Everyone was out and about enjoying the early Spring sun, but the wind whistling around the moored boats set up a cacophony of whistling and keening that reminded you how tenuous it all was.
Gilkicker Fort was constructed between 1863 and 1869 with the aim of defending the deep water at Spithead and protect the western approach to Portsmouth harbour. It was briefly armed during the two world wars, but its main accomplishment was routing thousands of signals, especially during the Normandy landings on June 9. In 1956 Coast Defence was abolished and the fort was then used by the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works as a plumbers workshop and its now waiting to be converted into residential apartments (although the golf course next door is not too happy about it)..
The Isle of Wight and the Solent were a constant companion and we joined the throngs taking advantage of the glorious Spring weather. We stopped at the rather deceptively grand Alverbank Country House Hotel on the way back for a lager shandy, and sat in the lengthening shadows contemplating the house’s glory years – now it all looked a bit run down.
Back to the van to sit in the last sunrays of the day, reading the paper, sipping wine and feeling very content with life.
Sunday
The day dawned bright and sunny and a bit earlier than normal as the clocks went back last night. Sunday morning and an indulgent cooked breakfast while listening to the Archers – marvellous!
Today was a trip to Fareham and then onto a six mile walk around Hamble. Fareham was fairly deserted, we expected more hustle and visitors, but it was just the odd mother and daughter out for Mother’s Day. We had a pleasant wander and a coffee then set off for Warsash to start todays walk; the ‘Hamble Ramble’ courtesy of i–footpath.
There was free parking right next to the river, and we walked up the riverside path to catch the Hamble-Warsash ferry from its distinctive and jaunty pink hut.
The short ferry journey complete with a jolly, white bearded ferry captain, took us across the river to Hamble and we walked along pretty streets and past posh houses out to heathlands and woods. The weather was glorious and the path was abundant with spring flowers; daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, magnolias and camellias.
We walked up through Badnam copse and Mallards moor to Bursledon where we stopped to take in the glorious view down the twinkling river across to the Isle of Wight. A short walk further on and a slight detour found us at the Jolly Sailor for a welcome lager shandy and loo break.
The Jolly Sailor has been on this site overlooking the Hamble river for 300 years and was initially a vicarage.
From here it was over the bridge to admire all the expensive boats and yachts for sale at Mendez Marine on Bridge Road, and wonder at their prices (if you have to ask to can’t afford it!). Once over the river we were heading South and it felt like we were on the last leg home, but it was a long slog down the river path and we all started to feel a bit travel weary. Even The Dog slowed right down and stopped rushing from one sniff to the next!
The bird filled meadows and mud flats on our left and the busy river on our right was a fascinating back drop, but we were glad to see the little pink hut when it came into sight!
Four hours and 7.1 miles and we were finally done.
Me, the man, our dog, and a van 