14 – 17 June 2021

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Seven intrepid Gromils celebrated the partial relaxation of Covid restrictions by heading for unfamiliar terrain in search of sun and salt water.

Monday 14 June
Lots of sunshine as we travelled over White Hill, down the Test Valley, then up through the Wallops (Nether, Middle and Over) to the independent youth hostel at Cholderton Rare Breeds farm.

Tuesday 15 June
More sunshine on Tuesday as we skirted Boscombe Down airbase to find their way into Salisbury via the Avon Valley. On the map this looked like an easy day – mostly down the valley, with a relatively small amount of bridleway to give a traffic-free route across the A35. However the ups and downs of the valley road were quite steep, and parts of the bridleway were very steep and loose. It was a pleasure to get to the YHA hostel at Burley, where we were met by the very friendly Aussie warden.

Wednesday 16 June
Still sunny, and a really easy day. A 10 mile saunter through the New Forest to the ferry at Lymington, then a short ride along the old railway from Yarmouth to Freshwater. One Gromil (Rory) went for a swim at Freshwater Bay. After a lazy coffee and lunch, we carried on to Alum Bay to get a view of The Needles before returning to the ferry and back to the hostel.

Thursday 17 June
After rain overnight, Thursday was overcast and cooler but still dry. Rory and Chris each had their own plans for getting home, but the remaining five of us cycled through the New Forest to Brockenhurst and took the train to Basingstoke (lots of space for bikes on the Wessex Electrics). As the rain was holding off, we cycled home from Basingstoke via Bramley Bakery.

Friday it rained hard all day, and we were glad to be home.