It had rained overnight and was still raining a little this morning, so we took our brollies for our walk to the docks. We didn't need to use them though and when the sun broke through, it was quite warm.

There is an interesting walk that can be completed around the 'Old Town Wall' and on Sunday's you can have a guided tour. There were many people with map in hand like us, doing the walk. Not that we undertook the full walk. It is said that some of England's best preserved medieval 'Town Walls' are in Southampton. What we did find soon after we started off from the hotel, was a sign advertising an up and coming bowls event. Southampton has the world's oldest bowling green and next weekend is their special bowling weekend, when they play in 13th - 21st century costumes. The bowling green opened in circa 1299. You can play bowls with them for no charge. Sounds like a day of fun!

The walls originate with the move of the town to the current site in the 10th century. This new town was defended by banks, ditches and the natural curve of the river and coastline. In the early 13th century, Southampton's growing prosperity as a trading centre and conflict with France, encouraged the construction of a number of gatehouses and stone walls to the north and east sides of the settlement. In 1338 Southampton was raided by French forces and the town's defenses proved inadequate. Edward 3rd ordered some immediate improvements to Southampton's town walls but it was not until the 1360's that substantial work began. Over the coming decades the town was entirely enclosed by a 2 km (1.25-mile) long stone wall, with 29 towers and eight gates.

We wandered around in an attempt to get as close as possible to the docks. We could see there were two cruise ships in. Many cruise ships leave from Southampton and most of the people who stay at the Premier Inn are going on a cruise. So much so there is a print-out near the lift with a list of all the cruise ships that are sailing in September and from which berth.

We talked to a number of people on our walk. One couple were off to the Isle of Wight the next day. This was where Uncle Ken lived for many years and Aunty Helen had two dress shop businesses there, until the girls had finished their studies in medicine. Fiona studied forensic medicine and Sarah became a GP. Fiona no longer works in that field and Sarah recently retired.

In trying to walk where we couldn't walk, we found out from a fella that the annual boat show will be held from about the 16th September through until about the 26th. They were putting up the structures. It is the biggest boat show in the country and you don't try to drive in Southampton during those 10 days.  "It is easier to walk" he said! He told us a lot of the berths are reclaimed land. One of the main reasons Southampton is such a busy port, is because they have two tides each day. This is because of the way the tidal water comes around the Isle of Wight and up the long 16 kilometre inlet to Southampton docks. The ports 'double tides' allow the largest container and cruise ships access to the port 80 percent of the time.

Satisfied that we had done what we set out to do, with our trip down the '1955 Memory Lane', we set off to get ourselves out of this busy city. It was a bit stressful for a start and we had a toll bridge to get ourselves over, but we were soon on the motorway heading towards Portsmouth, Brighton and then to Hailsham, which is a little north of Eastbourne. We went off the motorway at Hove and had lunch at a Waitrose cafe. We didn't let the sat nav take us cross country this time and ended up doing a lot more kms. We had to travel back a lot further north, than we thought we would. We can't win with that sat nav woman! All was good though and by mid afternoon we were giving Aunty Gwen and Susan a hug. Lovely evening meal cooked by Susan and and we met husband Dave for the first time. Pete and Dave went off to the pub for a bit.....and the women had some time for gal talk. Over dinner we all enjoyed a wine or two. Well four of us did! Nothing for Aunty Gwen.