Hassocks, Isle of Wight & Chichester 8th until 16th August

Classic cream tea at The Badgers cafe, Alfriston

Friday morning we set out for the church carpark at Berwick to then find the public footpath to the medieval village of Alfriston. Was a nice walk through harvested wheat fields then down into the village past well cared for very old buildings. 

The wee dog was our happy companion

This is what as known as the Clergy House, 14th century and the first property to be owned by the National Trust. Need to be short of stature, sure footed and good eyesight to move around in it and see in the gloom

This is a bookcase made from wood, clever

Belle and I at the Village Green, she liked to see what is going on, not just everyones ankles

Spent the afternoon cleaning and tidying up where we had been staying for the last week. A final walk to Ditchling village next morning for coffee and the weekend newspaper. Took a picnic lunch up onto the South Downs, was a lovely day and good views. The wee dog was sticking closeby no doubt aware of our leaving.  We headed back to Chichester in the late afternoon to friend, Marj. 

Sunday morning Marj left about 4.30am to make the long drive up to Glasgow to see her Mum and empty her house with her sisters before sale as her Mum is now in care. It was a beautiful day so walked into town and back, not too busy early morning as shops do not open until 10am.

The market cross in the centre of the East, North, South and West gates that are downtown Chichester

Later in the day we plotted a circular 3hr walk via Dell Quay from the house as we were meeting friends there the next day and wanted to suss out parking etc. Being a Sunday late afternoon and gorgeous weather it was absolutely packed but an idyllic setting.

Tidal Dell Quay part of Chichester Harbour

The Cown and Anchor 

Jeff far right as we quenched our thirst with half a lager half way around circular walk. Lots of mudflats, swans and ramped boards, was well worth doing

Next day we had booked to get the train to Portsmouth Harbour then ferry to Isle of Wight following our lunch date with Tim and Carolyn. They had been on our Channel to Med ride in France in June (seems so long ago!). We had got on with them really well, both very strong cyclists and they had wanted to meet up again. Tim had just retired a week previous and they are keen to come out to NZ and camper van their way around. We will send them our "where to" map

With Carolyn and Tim, Jeff and Tim sporting fluff hairdos

Crown and Anchor outdoor menu, a different menu inside. Did not rate the food, not a salad to be seen, but company and setting was great

We had booked a carpark at the Chichester train station so seamless to park then the 3pm train to Portsmouth Harbour for the Isle of Wight ferry to Ryde, which only takes 20 minutes. Suzanne met us at the ferry terminal and we were off to her place which is near the centre of the island. Suzanne is a friend of Marj and we had hosted Suzanne in Nelson a couple of years ago. Usual story in NZ; someone knows someone looking for a friendly face and travelling tips or somewhere to stop, do laundry, sleep in a real bed etc.

Suzanne takes of the top of a bottle of Cloudy Bay with a sword no less in our honour

The start of a walk we did Tuesday from Freshwater beach to what is known as The Needles on the western tip of the Isle of Wight

Quite a few folks did the "challenging" walk....dead flat 3hrs which we laughed about

Alum beach. A 25C day so lots of beach goers but  not too many swimmers, if any

Looking across to England mainland. There had been talk for years of a bridge being built but not likely to ever happen if the fiasco of HS2 rail line is anything to go by presently £40 billion, yes billion pounds over budget. If ever finished in 2040.

More chalk cliffs. Chalk is throughout Southern England so the water is very very hard, not a bubble to be seen. Your hair always feels a bit lank

The famous Needles. There is great sailing all along this coast but do have to watch out for underwater reefs

Next day Suzanne schemed that we walk from St Catherines lighthouse, which is on the otherside of the island to the previous day, to Ventnor. The difference on the island is that the mainland side is windy with less vegetation and the St Catherine side is more verdant and way less windy. 

St Catherine lighthouse on the southern most part of the island

Astounded to see so many cabbage trees on the walk to Ventnor

Suzanne walked the first hour with us to a Korean cafe on the coast, made up of sea containers. Very random but super salads etc. We than carried on along the coast for a couple of hours to Ventnor which is your classic English seaside town. We enjoyed watching the comings and goings on what was really an overcast cool day.

No swimmers or sunbathers

Did not partake in the crab pasties or icecream, coffee and Madiera cake was ok

Beach huts

We left the Isle of Wight the next day after Jeff had done a couple of " need a man" tasks for Suzanne. Sadly her husband had died early from some ghastly cancer. She is a great hostess and loves folks staying.

The hovercraft that zips between Portsmouth and Ryde on the Isle of Wight, we were on the fast ferry

Our last full day here so the annual shop at Boots, Marks and Spencers, which only took an hour, then we drove back down to the New Forest to visit Beaulieu National Car Museum. It has an extensive display of all things motor from late 1800's to present day. Have to say it was really well done and my eyes did not glaze over, Jeff a happy bunny. Was on the Montagu family estate complete with palace house and gardens, river etc. Worth the walk about on a scorcher day for southern England.

Mr Montagu ( Lord) with a Morris 8

Jeffs other love Jaguar E-Type behind the Ford GT40

Carving on the tree stump is called Mr Quirky Quercus

Mum and Dad swan, a cob and pen, with four signets

Local village cricket oh so English. We really enjoyed watching

So a fabulous 3 months in Europe and the UK ends tomorrow when we head to Heathrow at the end of the day arriving back in NZ Monday 18th August, our 35th wedding anniversary. Life continues to be full of adventure, opportunities and fun.