Heading out of London towards Winchester

Les dropped Mike off at Heathrow and we headed for a few days towards Winchester a beautiful historical town nestled in rural England and within short driving distances of Southampton, London, Poole and Oxford. Thanks heavens for Mr IP and google maps as many of the streets are nameless and rural roads more passage ways than dual carriages. We are staying is great a self-contained apartment on the outskirts of Winchester set on a fabulous rural estate with owners who are so obliging.

Highlights of our time here ,The South Downs National Park  covering 1600 km sq between Winchester and Eastbourne it caters for cyclists, walkers and riders through tree lined avenues, forests, woodlands and farmlands. Well marked it takes about 3 days to complete the 160 km bike ride. We cycled from Winchester to the historic 400 year old  Millbrook pub about 40kms in total. The publican looked like he hadn’t moved for 400 years .

Stonehenge an awe-inspiring monument to man’s intellectual ability and perseverance  to achieve against all odds. The size of the structure and the distance the stones were carted remains a  mystery as to how they were transported and set in place. A very spiritual place, looking across the meadowstowards the processional road the imagery of years gone by and festivals is conjured up.

Oxford the University city another historical town, filled with students and lecturers in full  academic gowns  walking  around town was well worth a visit and wander around, we managed to score some parking in town against all odds and spent an enjoyable hour or two wandering the city, sampling the original Cornish pastry of leek, meat, potato and not too sure what else and chat with the locals.

West Wittering a lovely beach on the coast was a touch of NZ as it wasn’t as busy as Poole and other areas we had been too and the locals were more than ready for a chat and  story about their stormy region. On our way to West Wittering we passed through New  Alresford which true to name was newish about 800 years old and walked their historic waterway walk for a couple of hours before feasting on local strawberries from their markets before heading off to Chichester,  with a lovely old central mall, ancient clock tower and oozing history again.

Our last bike ride was through the local pathways along the Itchen River for about 10 miles before heading back to Winchester and their jubilee celebration and lunch with our host and their friends.  A gourmet lunch with red, blue and white rice and a cake to match complete with UJ blueberries and strawberries was a sight and tasted even better as we drank champagne and celebrated the Thames flotilla.