Wednesday 20 August 2014
In our headcold stupor last night, we neglected to mention (or take a picture) of Morgan, who had trained down to meet us and bike for a day or two. We’ll make up for that faux pas later, but you may remember him as our leader OUT of London on Day 1.
So this is what Portsmouth looks like after a good night’s rest! 
We woke to a crisp, sunny morning and immediately felt better for the extra dose of Vitamin C.
It took about eight miles to wind our way down the English Channel 
and through town
before we settled into to our easterly (tailwind) course. Twenty miles later, we reached our next stop,
to rendezvous with a good friend from Cayman Brac. Gillian suggested the perfect meeting spot, the cafe in the cloister of the Chichester Cathedral. 
We did a quick catch-up and then had a personalized tour presented by Gillian’s father and new bride, Mary. The two of them were as delightful, as the fully restored cathedral was awesome. 
Most impressive was the stain glass on the southside of the church; 
the northside windows had all been destroyed in WWII.
We were struck by how contemporary artwork had been incorporated into various aspects of the church,
such as the Chagall Window.
We (I) could have spent all day listening to their insights on the Cathedral and BellTower,
but a good bit of our distance was still ahead, so we bid our farewells
and headed out.
The delicious northwest wind 
was still at our backs as we cruised along the countryside.
Our last ten miles we sailed along a boardwalk peninsula 
that hugged the channel
as we watched the clouds building in front of us.
We missed the connection off the peninsula back to the main road, so had a one mile backtrack into the wind, proving us just how much it had helped us all day. As Morgan will claim (still trying to amend his “muddy route guidance” on our first day), this two mile “excursion” was to avoid the rain that was currently soaking our destination. We cruised into the freshly washed tourist town of Brighton; wall to wall buildings lined the water 
and the roads that ran perpendicular.
It was a good days work (9:00-5:00) of 60 miles and it did not take us long to clean and regroup for a walk about town. Brighton has been likened to Coney Island and it is easy to see why, 
especially with a couple of blokes
wearing sombreros. 
We strolled along the boardwalk 
enjoying the stormy sky in the distance
and briefly (almost) posing for a picture.
We were delighted to see our Duckies had broadened their horizons,
but almost got arrested “appreciating” the artwork. Best move into the streets
for pictures and dinner…..a small appetizer
or two,
finished by bowls of pasta. 
What could be better? 
Good Company and a Great Evening!
Wednesday 24 September 2014
Salisbury to London, England
3 day week
110 Miles
1 Day with Rain
but even the peacefulness 
could not brighten the gloomy, windy day, as we headed out on the busy highway. The silver lining is the wind was at our back. There was not much to see on our heavy trafficked dual carriageway; and feeling a bit under the weather, it was all we could do to maintain our narrow space on the white line as we rolled up and down the little hills. On a couple occasions we would pull off
for a picture and a break from the zooming traffic, 
but mostly it was head down and get there. We had a quick afternoon shower somewhere in the mix, but thankfully not a soaker. A last minute change in direction treated us to a small ferry from Gosport
to our destination. The quick four minute ride allowed for only a few pictures
of the very scenic Portsmouth Harbour. 
We had a quick ride through town
and past rows of homes
that lined the streets along the park, facing the water. Even with the tail wind, we were tired from our 50 mile paddle.
for some replenishment of body and soul. 
An early turndown tonight and hopefully the Duckies will rally tomorrow.
