Weather: Sunny & hot.
Distance: 31 km ( miles) Total
Distance: miles
Breakfast at the Youth Hostel was cereal, a couple of
croissants and toast. The Germans and the young lad at my table were
uncommunicative so it was all silence. I asked about the washing up but
apparently all that is done for you too these days.
Parking the car at Brockhampton, I started the day by
passing the sewage works and then a mile on the foreshore before crossing the
Langstone Bridge onto Hayling Island. In the reports I had read from others who
had walked around Britain, they had missed out Hayling because it was an
island. The road over was busy even early in the day.
There was a path and bridleway all down the west side
built on the tracks of an old railway. Mountain bikers in particular were
making use of this facility. Skirting though a suburban area and along a road I
ended up on the beach looking back over to Portsmouth.
I could not tell from the map if there was access around
the golf course but I need not have worried because it was all beach from here
until Eastoke Point at the east side of the island. I alternated between
walking on the beach itself and on the promenade. The crowds were out enjoying
the hot sun.
Around the east side of the island there were less
paths. I went all the way out to the peninsular even though the way back was
along town roads. I found there was a pleasant
foreshore walk out to Mangham Salterns but after that it
was back on the back roads and path.
I stopped at another pub for another pint of
shandy. The narrow roads through the
village of Northney were very attractive but I was a bit too weary to
appreciate it all by then. Back over the Langstone bridge which was packed with
cars by that time. I headed up towards Havant. In need of the toilet I spotted
one on the street map I had but when I eventually found it, it was closed then
I saw McDonald's - one thing you can always be sure of with McDonald's is their
good toilet facilities! The air
conditioning was also very much appreciated and so was their milkshake!
I spent a second night in Portsmouth Youth Hostel. It
was full this night. I had a shower and then went for a curry in Portchester
and was glad to get the bill and find it was half price at six pounds - mind
you twelve pounds would have been pretty pricey for what it was, but it was
nice. The restaurant must have been going through a rough patch to offer meals
at half price.
I was first in my dorm at just gone 9 o'clock but had no
trouble in sleeping.
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