Morn Hill CAMC Site (N51.06208 ; W1.25846) contd...

Tuesday, 18th May 2021

A dry and sunny start to the day, but, the forecast is more(!) rain. 10c and 15c forecast.

We take the short bus ride into Winchester (only about two miles). Only a short walk from the site, to the bus-stop (No 64 bus)

Winchester is mostly a quaint old place, but, the shopping area has, like many town centres, seen better days. Many empty premises and a surplus of charity shops.

Never-the-less, Kathleen manages a little retail therapy, and, is extra pleased when she discovers the chosen item is only half the ticket price.

A muffin, toasted tea-cake and coffee in Costa Coffee, something we have not done since February 2020!

There are numerous Military Museums, but, not really our scene, so, we stroll through a couple of parks and around  the area called Peninsula Barracks.

According to the plaque, William the Conqueror built a castle here, in 1069, this was besieged by Oliver Cromwell in 1645. Charles II had a Palace, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, built here in 1683. This

unfortunately burned down in 1894. The existing buildings were built in 1896-1903, as Barracks. 

The MOD subsequently used some of the buildings to house Military Museums, and, the rest was converted to Private Dwellings (and, very nice they are too!).

We have enjoyed a pleasant visit to Winchester, and, surprise, surprise, it has not rained!

Catching the bus back to Morn Hill proves a slight challenge. 

We got off the bus just outside the Bus-Station. 

It seemed reasonable to assume, that the bus would leave from the bus-station.

Wrong, no sign of the 64 service in the bus-station, so, we walk to the stop where we got off, the good news is, this is where the return bus lives from. The bad news is, a number 64 was just leaving, as we arrived.

With half an hour to wait for the next bus, (impatient) Kathleen elects to walk to the next bus stop. This turns out to be a good half mile up a very steep hill! All is not lost, the bus does arrive.

We get back to Morn Hill, and the van, with minutes to spare before there is a rain and hail storm.

Wednesday, 19th May 2021

Surprise, surprise! it is rain again overnight and this morning. Sun eventually appears by 09:30.

A sad day today. Funeral for niece, Andrea. Due to Covid restrictions, the funeral was live streamed via Zoom. A very fitting tribute to a life cut so suddenly short, she was only 41. 

A short bus trip into Winchester in the afternoon.

The wait for the bus back to the campsite provided an excuse (if an excuse is ever needed), to visit "The Crown and Anchor", beside Winchester Bus Station. It is the first time I have been IN a pub, since February 2020, due to Covid restrictions. Bit of a work up to be honest, track and trace formalities, masks, one way systems.... not relaxed in the least.

Thursday, 20th May 2021

It is not raining, but, it is overcast and cool. I think we need a bit of global warming!

We walk to the village of Easton, the rain holds off, and starts just as we return to the Van.

The purpose, in addition to bit of exercise and fresh air,  is partly to check out the distance and location of The Chestnut Horse, pub, which is destined to be our lunch venue on Sunday, possibly, with Gary, Susana and the children. 

Quite doable at just over 2 miles, and, we manage a 5.8 mile walk, in total, including a wander around the village of Easton, which is a very pleasant place, and, very quiet.

While having a little look around the Church (St Marys) Kathleen met a lady who hailed from Ponteland, and, had retired here. 

We find two pubs (The Cricketers and The Chestnut Horse), but, no coffee shop (which we were told, did exist).