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! 

Worting to Aylesford

Today was the longest walk of the week, it turned out to be 17 miles! 

Dummer

I was fortunate that my hosts were walking with me to Dummer this morning, a section of 4.5 miles.  The beginning followed a Roman Road which also is the edge of Basingstoke. On the left hand side housing estates and fields on the right hand side. We came to a farm and teak garden furniture factory, who had an old petrol pump in front. 

 

 

Fortunately we did not need any! 

After that we had a complicated cross of the A30 and M3 which run in parallel there. and then we entered Dummer and had a break all Saints Church 

 

To Preston Candover 

At Dummer my hosts returned home and I went on only to return as I forgot my pole. From here the walking was more difficult it were main stony tracks with a grass in the middle. The latter walked best as it was more gentle for my now sore feet. Blisters playing up! 

I did not go into the village of Preston Candover, as that would cost more time and I hoped to arrive in good time for a gathering at Alresford Methodist Church with tea and cakes! So I carried on

To Upper Wield

This was a long stretch on road, harvested cornfields (with deer) and road again, going up a the time even in the village as it is Upper Wield. 

But the church St James was lovely  (11C Norman) 

I had a bit of a break there and then went along the 

Oxdrove Way 

This is a four mile track just outside of Upper Wield going to Old Alresford. Beautiful scenery but a bit difficult walking. 

Alresford 

I went straight from Old Alresford to New Alresford, passing by their famous watercress meadows, which in the past went on a special train to London. 

By now I was seriously late for the tea & cake as I arrived at 5pm at the Methodist Church.  Most people had left except for the Senior Steward and my new host. However I could still enjoy a cup of tea with a scone, cream and jam! 

Below you see some pictures of the types of road or tracks here. 

Tomorrow is of to Winchester, but also looking after my blisters... So public transport may be needed.. 

Mortimer to Worting

Rain! Lots of rain, very welcoming rain of course, but it does not make walking easier. 

But the day started very pleasant. Together with my host in Mortimer and his dog we walked from their home to the ruins of Silchester, of which the amphitheatre remains and the wall around the city. In the route map below you can see a strange loop, that is when we crossed the city area and gone back around the wall.

 

We also visited the church at Silchester, very nice with still some medieval wall paintings:

 

After visiting Silchester my host and his dog went home and I carried on to Bramley, Little London,  Pamber Priory, Monk Sherborne to Worting. 

But even before Bramley the rain started, so on with the rain gear, and I took some time at Bramley church, hence only photos of the inside! 

 

Even more extensive medieval paintings!

The rain eased up, but it was all a bit slow going. Spent some time in Pember Priory garden:

 

And carried on. After Monk Sherborne there was a path next to a golf course, which was very overgrown:

 

 

This is what I had to get through. Fortunately I could walk for a bit on the golf course in parallel, but had to get back to the same overgrown path to get to the road. It was heavy work, very prickly and took a long time.

So it was only at 5pm that I got to Worting St Thomas of Canterbury (!) where my new hosts for this evening picked me up.

But I was very tired and soar at the end of the day!

I like to finish with a picture of Ps 98 in the church at Bramley:

 

"O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD. Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity."

Even at the end of a more difficult day, there are things that remind us of the glory of God!