The train journey from Havant was smooth, except the train was loaded with cyclists and their bikes heading towards the Isle of Wight we think. I didn’t find out if there was an event on. There was no room for the luggage so we were partially blocking the aisle. We managed.
We only had a couple of minutes to wait for the ferry. One of the reasons I’ve separated out was because I want to write about the crossing. Many of the ports that we go into on cruises are very basic, basically a concrete platform designed just to accept cruise ships, with the town being a small village that just happened to be there, nothing that really attracts the interest of passengers. I was very struck how different tthat situation is with Portsmouth. A cruise ship comes in through the narrow entrance fortified on the starboard side (inbound, eastern) built in Henry VIII’s time, pass over the buoy that marks where the Mary Rose sank, Spice Island – an 18th century den of iniquity, on the Gosport Side For t Blockhouse, the Submarine escape tower, the submarine museum and Gosport. How could new arrivals not find these sights interesting and be curious about them?
Then we got home. Before we’d unpacked we went to get Misty from the cattery. She was both delighted to see us, and was very clingy and affectionate and very angry as well.
We had a lovely time, but were glad to be home.
Bills Posts 