Sunnydale Campsite, Netley Abbey (N50 53'8" W1 20'30") contd,

Thursday, 23rd May 2019


Clear blue sky, bright sunshine and 21C, with light cloud beginning to appear by evening.

We cycle to Hamble-le-Rice, via a new route (we are looking for a suitable lunch stop). We pass a couple of "possibles":

The Roll Call, looks attractive, but, not much choice on menu (if you don't like fish, which Kathleen doesn't). 

and The Cottage, not open until 16:00, we cannot wait that long for lunch!.

The waterfront at Hamble-le-Rice looks much more promising. A tourist "hot-spot" I am sure, for the Bank Holiday, but, today, it is just pleasantly "populated", and, we have a very pleasant lunch in The Bugle.

It is easy to see why this is so popular, a very attractive waterfront, looking over the River Hamble. 

As always with these "boat places", the marvel (to me) is the amount of expensive hardware, which appears to be seldom used.

A quick trip to the Marina, suggests this is an affluent area, expensive new yachts lined up, awaiting buyers.

So, all in all, a very pleasant day, fourteen miles of pleasant cycling and a very good lunch!

We return to find we have a neighbour, a couple who have "gone native" and live in their twenty two year old Hymer. A very talkative chap, we learn they are here for only one night, to enable him to attend a hospital appointment.

Friday, 24th May 2019

Another beautiful day, blue skies, sunshine 21C.

We cycle to Woolston, to buy essential supplies (ie wine and Pizza).

Lunch, courtesy of Kathleen, sitting by the coast at a rather pleasant small cafe.

It is the beginning of a Bank Holiday weekend, the site is filling up rapidly, Motorhomes, Caravans and Tents arriving until late in the evening.

Saturday, 25th May 2019

A degree of two cooler at 19-20C, stiff breeze, and, a lot of cloud rolling in, but, no rain so far.

A dry run for Kathleen's "walk to church" tomorrow, the plan is I will be trusted to do packing up, unsupervised, whilst Kathleen "does" her Church thing.

Bicycles loaded into the Garage of Van.

Sunday, 26th May 2019

Dull and Cloudy, a good day to be leaving.

The plan is to drive about halfway home, then find somewhere to stop for the night, preferably with the option of a meal.

But, the weather gets worse as we go North, windy and wet, so, we, well I, drive the 320 or so miles home.

Happy(?) memories of my working life, when, for months, I made this journey, from A&P Southampton, every Friday afternoon, and again, in reverse every Monday morning.

Sunnydale Campsite, Netley Abbey (N50 53'8" W1 20'30")

Monday, 20th May 2019

Another warm and dry day, as we leave Windsor. I am almost embarrassed to mention the weather, just in case Doug Shearer is reading this, as they are not having much joy with the spring weather in France, Switzerland and Germany.

A pleasant surprise, when Gary calls in to see us off.

Only a short journey (66 miles) to Sunnydale Farm Campsite, Netley Abbey (N50 53'8" W1 20'30"), however, in true UK Motorway style, the first the M4, then, the M27 are plagued by road works and subsequent hold ups.

First impressions are favourable, very friendly wardens, we even get a fully serviced pitch,

with grey waste disposal, fresh water, and EHU on our pitch.  

I am finally able to make use of the three metre length of waste water hose, which I have been carrying about for the past two years!.

Slight reservation about the rather busy road, which may prove a problem for our planned cycling outings, but, we will give it a try.

Tuesday, 21st May 2019

A beautiful day, full sunshine, 22C.

The road outside the site proves not as worrying as we feared. 

The plan is to find the Catholic Church (St Patrick, Woolston), then, to explore. After a little guidance from Stella (Owner), we find our way to an excellent cycle track along the coast. 

We first go toward Southampton, and quickly find the church, then, returning via the coast to Netley, where we stopped for refreshments, at the Prince Consort Pub, then, on through Royal Victoria Country Park, to Hamble-le-Rice, and back to Sunnydale Campsite. just over thirteen miles, and, not a word of complaint.

Wednesday, 22nd May 2019

Another beautiful day. 

Kathleen spends the time before about 9:30 on "hair care', a vitally important activity.

This means there will be no bicycle riding today, "what, put a cycle helmet on and mess up my hair?", not to mention, " get all hot and sweaty, after I have spent ages straightening my hair?".

We explore on foot, just under five miles.

First our route takes us through a nature reserve, very peaceful and pretty, but, we do not see as much as a mouse. We eventually emerge at the ruins of Netley Abbey, a very picturesque and well preserved example of one of Henry VIII's "acquisitions".

We take a few photographs, with my (to me) expensive new camera, all "point and click" since we have not mastered anything except the "zoom" feature yet!

Then, a stroll along the coastal footpath,

with a stop for picnic lunch, and, refreshments in the pub (Prince Consort).

We then become "all adventurous" and make our way back by "instinct", and, by chance, find: another COOP,  another Catholic Church, and, a route back which involved hardly any "on road" walking.