Today is still very windy, but in contrast to last time it’s very grey and overcast.
I’m at the lowest bridge across the River Itchen, one of the two main rivers that flow through Southampton into Southampton Water. It’s quite a high bridge, presumably to enable shipping to pass underneath! So I set off…
The view from the top - the River Itchen and Southampton…
Once over the bridge it is a short walk to Southampton docks. The docks cover a huge area and the only way past is to walk along the city roads all the way to the bridge over the River Test - the other of Southampton’s main rivers. This bridge is four miles away!
It starts off OK - some nice buildings on the way and the Red Funnel ferry terminal to the Isle Of Wight…
Soon the scenery becomes more industrial and the road gets busier. My plan was just to follow this road, the A33, all the way to the Test bridge, but after half an hour I hit a snag. The pavement runs out and there is no verge to walk along. Not that it would be an appealing idea anyway, because the road looks like it turns into virtually a motorway!
Consulting the map, it appears that I need to head north (even further away from the water) and cross the railway, then turn west through the streets toward an area called Freemantle. However, just before the railway I notice a path heading into the bushes…
I battle on through the foliage as the path gets more and more overgrown…
About fifteen minutes after passing the footbridge I hit a dead end. Bugger!
So I turn round and go back! Over the footbridge and through the residential streets, and soon I am reunited with the A33. Luckily it seems to have stopped pretending to be a motorway, and is now just an ordinary road lined with various businesses.
Eventually, an hour after crossing the railway, I finally reach the bridge over the River Test.
The view from the bridge looking south - the cranes on the left are part of the container port area of the docks…
From here it is just a short walk along the A35 into Totton. Turn left down here…
…and ten minutes later I arrive in Eling. At last, some nice scenery!
There is a small toll bridge across a creek here, which is where I am finishing for today. It’s not been the most picturesque of walks, but the city is now behind me and ahead lies the New Forest! That’s got to be better, right? (What was that about an oil refinery…?)
No comments:
Post a Comment