Day 5 Hike Complete!

We did it!  Our fifth, last, and longest hike is done. 

Today's walk was a flat 15km (not counting a short diversion to the pub in Chidham for lunch).  We chose the around Bosham and the Chidham Peninsula option.  It again covered a variety of terrain with one challenging section.  I'll keep you in suspense and say more on that later.

The day started out cool and windy and we were excited to get underway.

As we walked along the Bosham Channel, high tide was approaching and we sighted many birds, including swans.

Then we got to an interesting stretch.  The app told us that we would be going off grid which meant that we would be walking between the channel and a field where there was no real footpath.  It made for slow, careful walking to avoid a twisted ankle.

It was a relief when we got to the end and found a road to briefly walk on.

We soon got to a footpath which took us by the water and the swans came to visit.

The next section of the trail took us by a large farm field on which a large variety of vegetables were being grown - cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, and more.

We soon began the stretch around the Chidham Peninsula where we had more bird sightings and good views.

And then we got to the interesting part.  The path led us down to the rocky beach.  We had misread the info that InnTravel had provided and thought that we were past the section where the high tide could be an issue.  On the beach, there was a sign warning that it would be impassable at high tide, but we thought that we were long enough past the high tide that we would be okay.  We were wrong.

We got to a section of the beach where the water came up to the trees and bushes growing alongside.  There were two local women walking in front of us who started scrambling through the vegetation and we followed.  Stepping over tree branches and through bushes, we finally made it out.

The rest of the walk was uneventful except for one creek we had to cross.

Did I mention a diversion for lunch?  We walked into Chidham to have lunch at The Old House at Home, another pub with lots of local flavor.  Did I mention that they had beer and mussels and a lovely salad?  I think that pub food has changed quite a bit.

The rest of the walk back was made interesting by the now low tide and an encounter with a man and his dog.  The dog had gone off the trail down by a pond.  The man said that he was searching for a rat since he had once caught one there.  He tried repeatedly to command the dog to return to the trail with no luck.  His comment to us was that he had spent 2000 pounds on obedience training and this was the result!

The contrast between high and low tide was fascinating.

The arrival back at the hotel was quite welcome.

Before I wrap up this post, allow me to digress for a moment.  After dinner last night, we walked down to the water and were greeted by lovely views.

On another note, the Millstream Hotel is quite a contrast to the 2 inns that we stayed at previously.  It is a very formal hotel with seemingly regular clientele of a certain age.  Sort of reminds me of being on an Oceania cruise!

 So that's it for today.  Tomorrow we have a taxi transfer to the Hilton at Heathrow.  If we feel up to it, we'll take the Underground into London and drop in to see King Charles III.  Then we fly home on Monday.  I expect that there will be one more post to wrap up this month long trip.

Peace and blessings,

Linda and Larry