East of Emsworth

Kim and I spent a while in West Sussex this weekend.  This is an area that I'm not all that familiar with, but became fascinated about last year, when I started to plan a mountain biking ride along the length of the South Downs Way (in three stages).  I did the first leg in September last year (from Salisbury, via Winchester, to Butser Hill, adjacent to the A3, then down to Havant).  I hope to complete the other legs this year.

I had intended to call this post 'East of Portsmouth', but then thoughts turned to John Steinbeck, and also to Jack Kelly.  I had huge fun in the early '80s, race crewing on a Sigma 33 named 'Off Licence', owned and skippered by Jack.  At that time, Jack was a dentist in Emsworth.  Thanks for some great times Jack!

Anyway, on Friday evening, we went to the Southern Cruising Group spring supper at Chichester Yacht Club.  A hearty, happy gathering of the south coast Drascombe crowd.  Good food and fine company.

On Saturday, Kim and I drove to Harting Downs, then walked for a couple of miles along the South Downs Way, over Beacon Hill to Pen Hill, then back. Conditions were overcast, muddy and very slippery underfoot.  Despite that, we had a good walk, and enjoyed some fine views over the rolling hills, and distant coast.  It was great to get out walking.  We hope to do much more this year.









 

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