The fool afoot thought he’d lost his wallet with his cards in so he cancelled them and then found the wallet. In the meanwhile he’d rung his mate to ask him to get him some money and forgot that it was his mate’s birthday. Prick of the Week!!!

Good breakfast in the hotel and set off at 9.30 on the (wet) road again. I cut south to the sea down one of the many chines in this part of the world. A chine is a steep sided gorge leading seaward. So there! Didn’t you know that? Jesus! Are you daft or what? At least you didn’t cancel your credit cards. 

 

I walked along the beach for 4 miles, aiming for Mudeford ferry at Hengistbury Head. The tides throw sand on roads and benches every week apparently.

Darker skies and occasional showers but it was a lovely walk, with the Isle of Wight getting closer every minute.

Until the sky cleared a bit and Hengistbury was there in front of me, with the IOW and the Needles in the background.

The sand was turning into pebbles but I kept higher up on firm ground to avoid the crunching exhaustion of a pebble dash. Hengistbury isn’t high but it has a great 360 view. Looking northwards into the almost landlocked Christchurch bay. 

Then looking southwestwards towards Swanage and Poole.

Here’s where I were at. There there. With a short walk from the top of the Head down towards the ferry point.

Along the full length of the sandbank were dozens of wooden beach huts.

Some with great views like this.

The ferry was a small boat berthed at the far side so the trick was to walk out on the wooden pier and wave. Within ten seconds the boat was on its way.

It was a bit bouncy with the wind and waves and we covered a few hundred metres but the channel itself wasn’t very wide.

Climbing up to the quay there was a sight for sore eyes – a fish shop!

I bought three big oysters for my lunch and the bloke opened and prepared them for me. Delicious.

Now, head down Smithy, don’t muck about, a mile along the shore and then inland for a week. One last look at the Swanny Sea and then off.

The track cut up the cliff side past Highcliffe Castle and up to a main road into the New Forest.

Cutting across the heathland I made the YHA in good time. Fish and chips, tent up in the garden in the sleet and a damp and chilly night ahead.
Night night.

I’ve been looking forward to this walk. It’s a historic part of rural England that, more likely than not, I’ll not see again. If you don’t consider your own mortality as you get older then you’re avoiding the most significant part of life. Death. I won’t walk the South Downs Way or through the New Forest again as David Smith. 

Maggie dropped me off at Leeds station this morning and the trains were mostly on time. Down to Birmingham, change on to the Bournemouth train, bus to Sandbanks and a 5 mile walk back along the beach to the hotel where I’m spending tonight. What is it about stations that make me sing ‘Homeward Bound’? S&G you nailed it!! Compare Leeds station…..

…. to Birmingham New Street.

Six hours on trains and then an open topped bus to Sandbanks ferry terminal, where I finished my South West Coast Path walk nearly 5 years ago. What a spot.

And the final link up. I’ve done John O’Groats to Lands End and on to Sandbanks ferry….

….and now I’m off to Hastings. What a lovely part of the world this is.  Looking west to Old Harry Rocks in the distance. Old Harry always rocked for me. So did our Mick.

The weather was perfect. Cop this beautiful view of the Costa del Sandbanks.

And the property on this little bank of sand is the most expensive in the UK.

The beach runs up against the chalk cliffs as you walk eastwards towards Bournemouth.

My rucksack is heavy and I’m going to need a couple of days before it feels normal again. Lots of Russians and Romanians on the beach. Probably investing in the local property. The pier at Bournemouth appears and if you see just above the sea line to the right of this poor quality photo there is a barely perceptible pale smudge. That’s the Isle of Wight that is. 

Up the cliffs with my rucksack holding me back like a reverse tug of war, and the view westwards back into Dorset was stunning in the waning sun.

And the final shot on top of the cliff showing a great statue of the RAF display team. Looks real at cursory glance!

Great great afternoon. Loved it. Into the New Forest tomorrow and the forecast is for cold and wet weather. It’ll be a bit chilly in that tent! Nae bother. 

Night night. X