Day 9 - Tuesday September7th

In the early hours of this morning I was concerned about my leg. However, when I got up after creaming it and then putting on my flight socks things felt better and even more so with my boots on so I was encourged to find walking got easier during the day until about 3.00p.m. when I started to tire. My leg is no longer visibly inflamed although swells up during the day but goes down with a nights sleep.

I was given a lift from my host to the Portsmouth pier to get the ferry to Gosport, which was easier said than done. Tickets are only available by putting in the correct money into the machine. There is anotther that gives change for notes but this was not working! So I missed the first one and had to go to the train station to get change and then got a ticket just in time for the next ferry.
I started walking in Gosport at 8.15a.m. walking along the millenium walk to the road out past the submarine museum and then down a long road with 15 foot walls on both sides. The road then swung round and became residential and then I turned off across a golf course to Fort Gilkicker and then turned right along the coast. During this time there was a torrential downpour but it didn't last long. From Gosport I entered a military area which is open to the public called Browndown and this extended for over a mile and was a shingle heath. I then got to Lee-on-Solent at about 10.50a.m and found a cafe which made me some sandwiches for lunch and filled my box with salad as well. After this I pressed on past Stubbington and Titchfield Haven after which the path climbed up on to 75 foot high cliffs until I got to a caravan park where the cliff had collapsed and the beach was impassible at hight tide, and yes the tide was in! So a short detour inland was necessary inland before regaining the coast path and past another wetland wildlife site and into Warsash to find the ferry to Hamble-le-Rice. "Look for the pink ferry" people kept on saying. And yes when I got there there was a shelter for waiting passengers painted a garish pink and the ferry was painted to match! I arrived at Hamble at 2.00p.m. and ate my lunch. I then
found my way through Hamble and back to the shore and walked past some extensive industrial sites and then the path detoured inland around some private properties until I got to The Royal Victoria Country Park and on into Netley where I stopped for refreshments my own supply having run out. From Netley I followed the tarmac path for cyclists and pedestrians round into the Itchen and then walked over the Itchen toll bridge and across Southampton to Town Quay where I was picked up by my hosts for the night. While waiting at the ferry terminal I bumped into Alan Croft who is joining me tomorrow until Friday so I have some company for three days.
Today was a good day - it only rained twice and neither times did it last more than a short time. I walked a good long distance today - about 18 miles to Hamble-le-Rice, and then a further 7 miles making a total of 25 miles. I'm still feeling resonably robust for which I give thanks.

Day 8 - Monday September 6th

Today started with breakfast with Tim and Margie and Tim had offered to take me to Bosham as the ferry there from West Itchenor only starts at 9.00a.m I eventually set off from Bosham at 8.50a.m. I had a problem finding the start of the path from the village - when I found it, it was nearly impassible as the tide was in and I had to crawl on hands and feet along a concrete plinth for 20 feet but then it was passable. The route took me around Bosham channel to Chidham and up around the peninsular to Southbourne. At another point before Southbourne the sea made the path impassible and I had to climb over a fence into a field and then at the end climb into a deep ditch about 6 feet deep and then climb out and down to the path again! I then crossed the ishmus of Thorney Island arriving in Emsworth for lunch. After lunch I continued until I arrived at the point where one can go to Hayling Island. I enquired about ferry times and was told every 15 minutes until 10.00p.m. BUT they will not sail if the weather is bad - at which point due to strong winds blowing gale force 5 or 6 it was easy to decide to press on around Langstone Harbour, Farlington Marshes and then turn southward alongside Langstone harbour past Portsea Island and eventually to the seafront at Southsea. Past Portsea the weather changed, the wind dropped and the rain started. It continues torrentially. I was picked up from South Parade Pier at about 6.45p.m. and taken out for a meal which was very nice. [I was hungry by this time].

Tomorrow, God willing I will press on to Southampton and that will feel like "nearly home" but the Isle of Wight beckons!

Distance walked 19 miles

Day 7 - Sunday September 5th

Today was a rest day. Just as well as I had to visit the out of hours GP last night and obtain antibiotics for cellulitis in my left leg which has flared up again and this is affecting my walking.

I went to the 9.30a.m. Family Communion at Birdham parish church where I was able to preach about vision for reaching the unreached and spoke about first Albania where we worked for 12 years and then about Fulani Ministries for which I am doing the sponsored walk.

I have been asked how much will be raised. This I do not know for certain but I can say that it will not be less than £2,500 as that has come in already. This is not the total pledged.

The rest of the day was spent with Tim and Margie whom I had not seen since they moved from Bristol in 1978.

At 4.00p.m. we went to the healing service at the church and I received prayer for my leg.

Day 6 - Saturday September 4th

Today started early. My host, Bob, heard me moving around at 6.00a.m so he went down stairs to start preparing breakfast!! We had breakfast just before 6.45a.m [and very nice it was too]. We left by car at 7.15a.m and I was dropped off near to where I was picked up yesterday at 7.25am, and I set off around Pagham Harbour. It was nice being out early as the bird watching was better than later in the day. So I took my time around Pagham Harbour and on the other side stopped for a break at Ferry Field bird hide at 8.30a.m and saw some more birds. At 10.10am I arrived at the east prom of Selsey and then walked around Selsey Bill. At 11.15a.m. I left west Selsey car park to walk to Bracklesham. This was not easy as there is a long shingle bank for some miles but I was able to walk on the landward side on a dirt track which was easier than shingle. At 12.45 I arrived at Bracklesham where I ate my lunch. A short while later I set off for the Witterings - first along roads parallel to the beach, then on the prom at East Wittering and later I transferred to walking along a sandy beach about 200yards wide as the tide was out until I got to the West Wittering car park. I haven't been there since I was in my early teens - what a change! Then we used to go there as there were few other people. Today the car park is about a mile long and some thousands of vehicles and the most packed beach I have seen in years! Times change. Then I set off northwards alongside Chichester Harbour until I arrived at West Itchenor, where I was met by Tim Bushell my host for the weekend - he picked me up as my leg was playing me up and now I have an appointment to see the out of hours doctor this evening as I appear to have developed cellulitis in my left shin despite my best efforts to take all preventative measures. I arrived at West Itchenor at about 4.40pm having walked about 18-20 miles. While I was walking from West Wittering to West Itchenor I received a telephone call from Bureima Diallo which was nice.

Distance walked 19 miles

Day 5 - Friday September3rd

Today started with a good breakfast and a large packed lunch provided by Bernard my host.
I left at 8.00 and took the route back to the coast which took 20 minutes. After a short while the promenade ran out and the path wandered either side of an extensive line of tamarisk trees and even running like an avenue with them either side. I passed some open land and then through Ferring. The coast path ran through an estate at Kingston Gorse and again at East Preston. Next I passed through Rustington and then into Littlehampton. At 11.05 I had a coffee near the lifeboat station. In Littlehampton I had to walk inland to the footpath the cross the river Arun. On the other side the path quickly became rural with a golf course on the left and fields on the right. Either side there were reeds in the ditches - the weather was fine and the scene beautiful. I then came to Atherington and ate some lunch. The route continued to Middleton-on-Sea. As much of the path was on shingle I opted to walk on hard flat sand as the tide was out. I moved from the beach on to the promenade when that started and continued to the pier at Bognor Regis. As it was early I opted to continue westwards and soon the promenade ran out and some very expensive housing meant that the only option was to walk along the shingle until I got to Pagham. This last part was exhausting so I am glad that I have done it today and I can enjoy starting tomorrow by going around Pagham harbour and doing some birdwatching, although it has not been without some interest in this respect so far - twice I have seen hobbies - they are so beautiful and distinctive.
Walking distance today was 17-18 miles - not as long as previous days and tomorrows is about the same. I am going to leave some of my baggage with Tim & Margie after the weekend to lighten the load - a lesson to be learnt here for me. However I am in good heart and all is going well apart from yesterdays miscalculation!

Day 4 Thursday September 2nd

Left Eastbourne at 8.10 a.m. and reached the top of Beachy Head one hour later. Walked through Beachy Head country park to Birling Gap, then over the Seven Sisters. When I got to Cuckmere Haven, forded the river (12.10) and continued on to Newhaven. It was obvious by then that I had completely miscalculated the distances, so caught the bus to Brighton. Walked for 2 hours through Brighton and Hove and then got the bus to Worthing as it was obvious I wasn't going to get there any other way. Arrived at Worthing 6.15 p.m.

Walked 20.67 miles today.

Day 3 Wednesday September 1st

Left Rye at 8 a.m. after very nice breakfast. Took direct path to Winchelsea, rejoined the canal path, along to Cliff End and then up cliffs to Fairlight Cove, through Fairlight and into Fire Hills Nature Reserve, which extends all the way to Hastings and includes 3 glens, path very steep. Arrived in Hastings at 1.30 p.m. Walked along to Bexhill, between railway and the sea. Arrived Bexhill 3 p.m. and continued along the front, on to a road which is a cycle route, under the railway and then left the road and walked along the beach to Norman's Bay to find another coastal path. Arrived Pevensey Bay 5.45 p.m., had a meal and then walked to Eastbourne and arrived at B & B at 7.45 p.m. Total of 28.4 miles today.

Distance walked 28miles.