2093 – A road trip

The A3 is an interesting road. I’ve not only driven along it quite a few times, but it has also given me more than a few adventures.

I passed my Amateur Radio Foundation exam in 2016; not long after that, I joined an organisation called RAYNET. I had a great time being a part of that. The header picture was taken when I was operating a radio at the top of Butser Hill, for an event called the Butser Hill Challenge. The cows were very friendly, intensely curious, and hungry. When they realised I wasn’t going to feed them, they lost interest and wandered off.

A little further along the A3, from Butser Hill, is the road’s only roundabout. Just north of Petersfield. It was here that I had my first encounter with Gilbert White. Northbound, his house is signposted from the roundabout off the first exit. It took me several years to get around to googling to find out who he was, and why his house warranted a brown tourist sign. That really opened up a new area of interest, only half of which you are aware of- the Letters to Steve.

Only a couple of miles further north of that roundabout and not far off the A3, is the hotel where Alex, my step-son and his wife were married. We’ve stayed there a couple of times.

Then, there is the Holycombe Steam collection. That is on our list of places to visit soon.

The final place I’ll mention is The Sculpture Park. It’s an open-air shop, and I think every item is for sale, but they are quite happy for people to just come in and wander – for a small fee. It really is amazing, and well worth a visit

Another place we have yet to visit is The Devils Punchbowl. It’s another of those places that every time we see the sign, we say, “We really must go there”.