|
|
Clarendon Way (Salisbury/Winchester) 2/10/03-5/10/03
Thursday 2nd
Pat, John & Steve travelled down together by car arriving at the hostel at 16.00. They decided,
after booking in, to look around the town briefly. Pat wanted some tea bags & biccy's. Norman
arrived at Salisbury at around 14.00 to look at the cathedral, then got lost & couldn't find his car.
He eventually got back to the hostel at 17.30. Pete arrived at 17.00.
All met in the dinning room over tea & Pat's biccy's. They were confronted by the hostel nutter
who told them all that he had just got a job in Waitrose in 'icing'??? No one could understand
what he meant.
Paul arrived around 19:00, Dick, Ian & Bill arrived at 21.00 & met the others in the pub (Red
Lion Hotel, painted bright yellow on the outside) to sample the local ale which was called
'Lionheart' (I think). Andy would meet us all the following evening.
The hostel had a code lock so we did not have to rush back. The hotel owner however only
allowed residents a late drink so he asked us to leave as he was locking the gates with us on the
outside.
Friday 3rd
We awoke to a fine but overcast morning but it stayed fine and warm although hazy all day.
After breakfast we all got ready to leave Pat and Norman were going to drive to Winchester then
walk back along the Clarendon Way to meet the others. Norman had no trouble finding his car
this morning as it was in the Hostel car park and he had got a map of Salisbury for future
reference but it was in Chinese!
Paul, Dick, Pete, Ian, John, Steve, and Bill all walked to the station to get a train to
Dunbridge to start the days walk. Whilst buying tickets for the 10:00 hrs train we were told it had
been cancelled, there was a train standing at the station which went to Romsey but did not stop at
Dunbridge. After discussions with the guard we boarded the train either going to Romsey or if he
could get permission stopping at Dunbridge, fortunately we were able to stop at Dunbridge
which saved a lot of grief.
Ian had enjoyed a tofu stir fry for his dinner on Thursday night it had been spicy but nice
however it bit back in the morning causing him to have several tofu movements. Ian walked
rather strange for ten minutes after each of these movements.
The Route was from Dunbridge around Mottisfont Abbey to the Test Way as far as
King's Somborne where we joined the Clarendon Way following that to Winchester.
We walked up the Test Way, a disused railway. Walking through Horsebridge the old
station had been converted into a house, keeping the platform, signal box and even an old
carriage, from the outside a very good job. Lunch was taken at the Crown Inn at King's
Somborne; we had to wait for it to open as we got away earlier than expected. After lunch we
carried on expecting to meet Pat and Norman, this did not happen though we seemed to take
different paths through Farley Mount Country Park. Whilst waking though Winchester several
points of architectural interest could be noted. We arrived at the Hostel at 16:40 it was locked so
we called in at the Bishop on the Bridge for a quick one.
Friday 3rd cont.
All were knackered so Paul went to get food for breakfast, as the hostel was a basic with
only a continental breakfast available. The warden was a very nice thorough person. After
showers we headed for the Bishop for watering and sustenance then on to the Black Boy before
going back to the Hostel by 23:00.
Saturday 4th
The weather was again fine but clearer than Friday.
All but Norman started the walk, he had sore knees so went to look at the cathedral and
planned to join us for lunch. The walk was a circular walk around Winchester along the Three
Castles Path to the Itchen Way past Easton, Couch Green, Chilland, Itchen Abbas, Ovington and
on to Tichborne for lunch at the Tichborne Arms.
After lunch Dick (blisters) and Steve (knees) took advantage of Norman's taxi services
the rest walked along the Kings Way to the South Downs Way back to Winchester. Upon their
return we all met at the Bishop where the buttresses were admired.
Saturday 4th cont.
After a quick shower Paul rushed to the County Arms to watch football (West Ham), the
view in the pub was better than the match although West Ham won scoring in the last minute.
Bill, John and Andy had joined Paul for the second half they then moved on to the Wykeham
Arms for food.
Dick, Norm, Steve, Pat, Pete and Ian went in search of food thinking they had found the
answer in the Market Garden good beer and an Italian menu, only to be told they had stopped
doing food. As they prepared to leave food was back on for another hour but the offer was
declined. Moving on another Italian was tried but there was no room until after 21:00 so it ended
up in an Indian. After a phone call from Andy, we tried to get to the Wykeham Arms but the
route through the cathedral was closed, so it was back to the Bishop where we all met in the end.
Before retiring by 23:00.
Sunday 5th
The weather was colder and windier although sunny with clear views.
Dick and Pete went with Norman, who was going home, to get their cars from Salisbury.
Again Norman had trouble finding his car he was prepared to go for a walk around town until
Dick managed to convince him to go the other way. On arriving at the pub early for lunch Pete
went for a walk whilst Dick read the paper.
Pat and Steve drove to the lunch time stop with the intention of walking back up the route
to meet the others, but they called in a garden centre café staying there until it was time to meet
the others. They did however speak to the landlord and arrange for some rolls as the pub usually
only do lunches.
The rest left Winchester on the Itchen Way along the river then diverted over Twyford
Down back to the Itchen Way and on down to Otterbourne to the White Horse. All met for lunch
and regrettably went home in the sunshine.
|
