Eastleigh to Southampton

The last day of this leg of the St James' Way!

This is God's House Tower, the official end of the St James' Way pilgrimage:

 

But before I set off on the road my host took me to view Eastleigh Methodist Church. And although the building has some structural roof problems, it is modern and light, and I found it quite homely!

(this photo taken from there website) 

After that my host took me to the parking where I finished yesterday. A great thanks to both my hosts and their dog for the welcome, food and lodging. This bit of the journey I have found a real welcome everywhere, and I am grateful for it but also so thankful to all!

As three churches belong to the Winchester, Eastleigh and Romsey Methodist Circuit, there was a real continuity and I have found it interesting to see how the circuit is supporting each other. As a URC minister I found this a real strength!

The journey this time was maybe not as beautiful, as it passes a sewage plant, industrial sites, Southampton International Airport and alongside thr M27 before entering Southampton. At the same time the river Itchen flows through quite a few designated nature reserves, so nature and human activity live together and influence each other. 

But because it is not as beautiful also meant that the paths were a bit more difficult and more overgrown. I got quite skilled redirecting bramble branches with my walking pole! 

But that is also what pilgrimage is about: the journey continues even if it is not as beautiful or easy - just as life. 

But still God travels with us, whatever the circumstances. 

I took a little detour to see Southampton Airport, as otherwise I would have only heard it! 

M27:

I spent a lovely time resting at Mans Bridge where the river is not yet tidal but quite wide and slow. An Indian family was happy together swimming / standing in the water amongst other river users. I didn't want to take a picture though, but took this one instead:

After that the walk continued along the river through the park into the Southampton outskirts, where as the Itchen is now tidal it turned much wider. 

Then through some industrial and housing estates the journey ended in the city centre. It has quite some similarities with Canterbury, but larger. There are city walls and remains of towers. Old and new developments next to each other.

The last is a picture of God's House Tower, the official end. 

But after getting a pilgrimage stsmo there and something to eat I walked via the Quay and a new shopping centre (where I had a pizza) to the coach station.

 

I arrived at 11pm back at Canterbury!

I write this on the Sunday after. The blog will now pause until 7 September, when I start the Southampton to Canterbury journey!

See you then! 

Winchester to Eastleigh

As today's walk follows the river Itchen much closer than yesterday, and through nature areas I got to see many trees planted alongside the river:

 

Reminding me of Ps 1:3: 

 

"They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper." 

You'll see some more pictures of trees later!

I left my hosts to retrace my steps back to Winchester Cathedral, but first I had to buy a phone charger! I had forgotten my charger at my previous hosts family, and my phone had only 20% charge left! In the mean time I used my phone as little as possible to be able to phone my new host family at the end of the day...  So I don't have a tracking information this time... 

But today's walk was very beautiful. It helped that my blisters were not as painful so I could walk OK too. 

From the Cathedral I walked towards the river meadows, with the help of directions of a kind gentleman man who expected from the way I looked that I wanted to go there. 

After a few miles I got to the Hospital of St Cross:

 

 

Adriana and I visited Winchester last January so I had already seen it then. But I could enjoy a nice cup of coffee and picked up an apple from the garden there for my lunch!

Onward to Shawford with the Bridge Inn, which features at the last episode of 'One foot in the Grave'!

 

 

Then to Allbrook to end in good time in Eastleigh at 3pm, time enough to walk into Eastleigh crossing a huge area of railway tracks. It appears that Eastleigh was built for the railway industry. Anyway I had a coffee there, could charge my phone and do some shopping, after which I contacted my hosts. 

Here are some more pictures of the scenery of the river, which was beautiful. Many people thought so too and I encountered quite a few walkers, cyclists, dogs and swimmers. A beautiful day all in all, not too long about 9 miles.

The surprise at the end was that my host of two days ago has brought my phone charger to my current hosts, as they live nearby! But now I also a backup phone charger... 

Here are some of the river pictures :

Arlesford to Winchester

Sorry for a late instalment.... I didn't have Wi-Fi last night and mobile reception was not good either... 

From Arlesford to Winchester the St James's way follows the same route as the Itchen way, basically following the river Itchen from there to Southampton where it flows into the Solent.

I was dropped off by my host back at the Methodist Arlesford to continue from there.  Walking started out quite difficult as my blisters were quite soar, but I put two Compeeds on both of them! 

As I mentioned earlier Arlesford is known for its watercress beds, and those were the first thing I encountered on the river 

 

but after a while the walk followed the Itchen proper:

 

The first significant church was in Itchen Abbas (St John the Baptist), as it looks like a very traditional Anglican church but inside there were no pews but tables and chairs - would they normally have Café church? 

 

But also I saw an indication of my final destination : Canterbury! This church is on the beginning stages of the Pilgrims Way... 

 

 

In Martyrs Worthy (the first of the Worthy places) I came across St Swithun's:

 

And in Kings Worthy I sat for a while at St Mary's  

 

 

They had this very nice wall-hanging in the porch, portraying the church in the heart of the community 

 

There was a nice bench where I had a long break, and I was seriously considering taking the bus to Winchester. Tempting as the bus stop was outside the church and the next bus at 3:05p (it was then 2:50p), however after a prayer and something eat I revived a bit and thought that I would not be happy with myself if I didn't finish it till the end! 

The rest of the journey to Winchester was actually very good, through some nature reserves:

The first thing in Winchester was the site of Hyde Abbey of which only the gate remains:

 

 

Next to the church St Bartholomew's:

 

And at about 4pm I find myself in front of the Cathedral 

I was expected at Winchester United (Methodist/URC) at 5pm.  The arrangements were quite different there. My contact had arranged for me to meet with a few at the Church (even the Minister Tim Searle came to the meeting briefly as he had some time off!)

 

And then those who remained would have a bring and share there, but then decided it would be better at someone's home. So in a car we went of and had a very enjoyable dinner outside on their patio, with dessert and drinks inside. 

Then afterwards I was brought to my hosts for the night who live near the United Church so I could walk from there! 

Thanks to all from the United Church for your welcome!