Getting used to the rain overnight and waking to an overcast sky. What a dismal day it went from bad to worse, as soon as I opened the emails. TravelPod after 20 years has come to an end the blog site is closing 17 June and they have given all bloggers a couple of different sites with instructions on how to download our compressed zip files of all our blogs. Well it is alright for someone who is computer minded which Richard and I aren't, so somehow we have to figure out how to follow the instructions to transfer our blogs to another blog site.

Didn’t bother stopping at Fishbourne to go to the Roman Palace where there is the largest collection of early mosaic floors in Britain. We have seen Pompeii and will be going to Bath which will be more interesting.

The rain hasn’t stopped and the Satnav tried to take us on a bum steer to the sandy beaches of West Wittering but we came to a dead end at a private property. The roads are so narrow with vegetation on both sides you miss the sharp turn offs, but with a bit of backtracking in the pouring rain we managed to arrive at West Itchenor where the Chichester Harbour is. We could have crossed the road at the caravan site to walk 30 or so minutes to see the harbour from the other side of the water but with the rain and muddy track the long drive was a better option.

There was nothing much to see the tide was out, lots of boats moored and it was very wet in our plastic gear. Only one other couple was there to have a quick look. Next stop was Chichester and the only thing worth seeing was the Norman Cathedral. The town centuries ago was built behind an outer wall for protection with four gate entries and the two main streets the sign of a cross and in the centre is the Chichester Cross (Tower Clock). With the small streets we had to concentrate to follow the Satnav to the Park & Ride Cattle Market parking area.

The rain has not eased up there is no protection in the old historical town, people are still going about their business. It is Market Day with many stalls in East and North Street of the Pedestrian Area near the Chichester Cross.



Just past the Chichester Cross is the magnificent Chichester Cathedral the "Mother Church" of the Diocese of Chichester a good place to get out of the rain. The Cathedral (over 900 years old) is very large on the right is the Baptistry (the Font in Cornish polyphant stone with copper bowl, you are invited to reflect on this sacred space and the various stories it tells through the chapels, artworks, tombs, altars, treasury and beautiful stained glass windows around the cathedral. A truly beautiful Cathedral and we were lucky enough to see actors in period costumes being filmed for a movie.

The rain has not eased up so it was not point in walking round the footpath on the walls. With the miserable weather we decided not to go to Winchester, as we have had enough of cathedrals and gardens. Made a phone call and we are on our way to the Caravan Club site in New Forest Bransgore some distance away.

With the rain we are bypassing the Tall Ships at Portsmouth, can see the tops of one as we go over the bridges on the M27 with glimpses of Langstone and Portsmouth Harbours. The traffic is not too bad on the M27, turn off at Cadnam A337 to Lyndhurst had to had our wits about ourselves with the narrow roads for the turn off to A35 to Bransgore.

The New Forest Caravan Club site is three miles from the pleasant village of Bransgore in the New forest National Park originally part of a WW11 airfield and parts of the original runway still exist something to explore tomorrow if the rain stops. Looks like an early night as there is no internet signals.