17th March - Lymington to Christchurch - 7.6 miles

What a perfect day, boats and birds!!!

First off, I discovered Jeremy Rogers' boatshed and some lovely boats for sale. 
and there, hidden deep inside this 'temple' of perfection was one of his Contessa 32s
 -  a beauty undergoing a mid-life facelift. Drool!!!
The Solent Way passes through the boatyard
with all those objects of desire floating there in their cradles above the reeds.

The trail heads out along embankments above 'The Salterns' where there were flocks 
of Canada Geese
 and Brent Geese

Along the shoreline there were Curlew
Egret
Dunlin, 
Redshank

and Cormorant.

While walking on the embankment, in a scene out of Shoot Out on the High Chaparral, 
I was unsure as to who had right of way.

They didn't seem so phased by the encounter....

The weather forecast had suggested there'd be mist this afternoon but I could see The Needles clearly in the distance.
After 7 miles, I'd reached Milford on Sea and my feet had decided that the fun of walking on sea shale and pebbles was wearing a bit thin!

So, regretfully it was time to catch a bus - the X1 to Highcliffe and then the X2 to Christchurch. 

If Jeremy Hunt wanted some suggestions as to where his £200m 'pothole fund' should be spent, I'd suggest his research could start with travelling on a double decker X1 and X2. Can anything be more simultaneously tooth-jarring and nausea inducing.

By the time I reached Christchurch, the sun was shining again and the streets were busy.
Having arrived mid-afternoon I had a quick look around Christchurch Castle 
and the Norman House
I even had time for a coffee and a quick sketch of
Ye olde Eight Bells near the Priory.

Then, on my way out of The George Hotel for supper,
I met this poor chap who seemed to have his sword stuck in the timber ceiling. He didn't actually ask for help but who wouldn't have offered to help!!??

Try as I might, he was deaf to my suggestions of joining me for the obligatory quencher....


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