More Southern than Western

[whole diary]

[CyclingSid]

This Saturday's trip was down to the coast, but a different part to Graham. As mentioned elsewhere there was no Panama hat involved.

As is my wont I got a return from RDG^▸ (Rail Delivery Group, or Reading station, depending on context) to Portsmouth Harbour, which allows me to either go via Guildford or Basingstoke. Got a Gatwick train to Guildford, busy but not packed. Then a Portsmouth Harbour "fast", in the days of my youth there were no fast trains on the Portsmouth Direct line only "semi-fast" and slow (presumably too honest for the current times). Again busy but not packed.

Got off at Havant, left the good lady to run through to PMH^▸ (Portsmouth Harbour station) and explore Portsmouth. I cycled down the Hayling Billy Line to the Hayling Ferry. Sea was relatively calm and only a light following wind. The Hayling Ferry was packed with both bikes and people.

Cycled from Eastney along the seafront at Southsea, which was busy, to The Hard (bus train interchange at PMH) where I met the other half. Got the ferry to Gosport (busy), where we had a bite of lunch. I left her to use the other half of the ferry ticket and carry on exploring Portsmouth.

I cycled on Stokes Bay, Lee on (the) Solent where the Hovercraft Museum was open as I went by. Got to the Hamble Ferry where the sign said that the last ferry had gone, much stroking of beard (thinking?) when somebody said the ferry was coming so three of got on the little pink ferry, about eight had got off.

Cycled on to Southampton, slight deviation in Woolston (got lost?) I am used to going in the opposite direction, SOU-PMH.

Found a Basingstoke train, which had lost its guard. Platform full of people eventually got on three minutes after scheduled departure time. Got to Basingstoke where by pure chance I met the other half on the Reading Flyer. I think one person got off at Reading Green Park.

Dry all day, about five degrees cooler on the coast compared to Reading. No rain until I walked outside RDG to be greeted by half a dozen spots.