Around Britain

This was my first day trip on Around Britain for very many years. I took the train from London Victoria to Bognor Regis. I'd rung my friend, Alan, the previous day to suggest we meet up as he lives in Bognor. He was sitting on a station bench as my train arrived. We recognised each other despite not having seen each other for at least ten years. That was a good start.

Alan suffers from a central tremor which makes his hands shake. He used to be a talented sportsman with excellent hand/eye coordination so he played tennis, squash, badminton and table tennis to a high standard. Now he finds it difficult to write and has had to give up playing the organ. That's a great pity as he is also a talented musician. He can still sing and play golf. However, he chooses not to sing in church as he doesn't believe and cannot get on with the vicar.

Alan led my support team when I finally completed the Grand Union Canal Run within the 45 hour time limit in 2004. That was 145 miles along the towpath of the Grand Union Canal from central Birmingham to Little Venice near Paddington Station. He also accompanied me for the last three days when I completed the Pennine Way from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland sometime in the 20th century.

We chatted for a while in the station cafe and then he offered to set me off in what he thought was the right direction, that being the A259 which had a cycle way I could use. Following his guidance I reached the Bognor seafront. I decided to stick to the seafront for as long as I could.

The gap between Bognor and Middleton-on-Sea was imperceptible. I had an asphalt path to walk on just above the beach which was mostly pebbles with groynes at regular intervals. Holidaymakers abounded and there were cafes and restaurants enough to feed them. Signs indicated the English Coast Path but, when the houses came to an end, it became less used and sometimes intermittent. When it coincided with the beach it disappeared altogether.

As I left Middleton further behind there were only a few people to be seen. I came to a large ploughed field where the beaten earth of the path on the field edge was easy to follow. The route was just above a low earthen cliff. The sea seemed far off but, if it ever reaches this cliff, it'd be certain to be swept away.

At Atherington on Chimping Beach a road came to the beach from the A259. There was a car park and plenty of cars to fill it. I kept going and the path became a narrow asphalted road. This ended at a substantial modern building whose purpose was unfathomable although it seems from my O.S. map to be called The Mill. A public footpath took me round the building and onwards beside the Littlehampton Golf Course. This path took me to a road which led to the Club House near River Arun. I crossed a pedestrian bridge into the town.

My destination was Angmering Station from where I'd bought a ticket to London Victoria. In Rustington I sat outside a bakery to enjoy a coffee and a macaroon before reaching the station for my slow stopping train back to London Victoria.

Distance today 10.39 miles; total 3952.65

This was to be my penultimate day on Around Britain. The final day is planned for 5th October when I will be met at the foot of Brighton Pier by Polly, her daughter and granddaughter. My intention today was to make good progress towards Brighton but still leave a decent walk for the last day to make that day's journey worthwhile.

I caught the 8.16 train from London Victoria to Angmering. At that station I couldn't remember where I'd put my ticket when I reached the exit barrier. A fellow passenger produced his ticket but it didn't operate the automated barrier gate. He was able to communicate with the single member of staff located on the opposite platform on the far side of the railway. This was by means of a screen and intercom at the side of the barrier. The passenger held up his ticket to the screen but the railwayman said that he could see a second passenger (myself) and refused to open the barrier. An argument ensued. The railwayman said that this was a one-man station as if that obviously explained and justified a multitude of problems. Ultimately the barrier was opened for that passenger. Rather than hunt through my rucksack for my ticket I forced my way through the closing barrier. Later I discovered the ticket in my pocket. It was also on my phone so this was an unnecessary drama enacted before a growing crowd of passengers on the far side of the barrier.

It had been raining during the train journey so I'd changed into my waterproof jacket. After a few more drops of rain the louring clouds dispersed and the weather remained fine for the rest of the day.

I decided to join the A259 (assuming it had a walkway) in order to make good progress eastwards before heading down to the coast. I passed Ferring to the south. The road turned coastwards at a roundabout to pass Goring-by-Sea Station. The A259 then took me through continuous housing interrupted by shopping centres in West Worthing towards the town centre.

Whilst on this road there was a curious incident. I encountered a woman in East Asian dress who said something unintelligible apart from the word 'help'. I'm always ready to help others so long as the cost to myself is not disproportionately high. In this case my problem was that my interlocutor couldn't articulate the help that she needed. The woman was short in stature and seemed to be looking upwards. Perhaps my greater height was a factor. I looked up at the high fence beside the road. A plant had grown over the top of the fence. Her energetic gestures suggested that she wanted the plant pushed back to the far side of the fence. I did this but she wanted more. Then I saw a similar plant protruding over the fence so that got the same treatment. The woman seemed content but no less voluble. I detected the words 'Thank you very much'. My good deed for the day accomplished I moved on.

There was a pedestrianised street in Worthing Town Centre where I stopped for a coffee and a sandwich. I discovered that a significant mark up was imposed on those eating within the premises.

I had now reached the waterfront. I looked over a shingly beach onto a calm sea with distant yachts. In Lancing I joined the England Coast Path. A sign told me that Brighton was ten miles away and Shoreham-By-Sea just three.

Widewater Lagoon separated the path and beach from housing inland on the other side of the water. Four swans took off with their beating wings striking the water several times before they became fully airborne. A solitary white bird on the edge of the lagoon turned out to be an Egret when I checked my bird book.

Beyond the lagoon I went wrong, straying into Shoreham Beach, a residential area surrounded by water on three sides. Backtracking I found the pedestrian bridge near the Waterside pub and crossed the River Adur into an area of shops and restaurants. Passing the church I reached Shoreham Station. With Brighton seven miles away, I thought this a good moment to catch the train back to London.

Distance today 11.25 miles; total 3963.9.

This was to be the last day of Around Britain. I took the 8.46 train from London Victoria to Shoreham-By-Sea. Arriving there at 10 o'clock, I immediately set off for Brighton Pier. I'd told those meeting me there to expect me between noon and 12.30.

I soon joined the A259 that I was to follow the whole way. Initially the road ran alongside the River Adur. Beyond Shoreham Beach on the far side of the river there was an outlet into the sea. This was overlooked by a round tower with a platform around the top. The only script on the tower was “A.D.1846”. However, I assumed it was, or had been, a lighthouse to guide shipping towards the harbour entrance. Up to and beyond this point the scene was largely industrial. Many businesses had premises on the A259. As I walked on the road climbed high above a spit of land separated from the mainland by a continuation of the harbour. Medium sized ships were moored and there was a marina. Towards the end of this stretch of water, I saw water skiers using suspended wires to race up and down between and over various obstacles. Nearby several people were moving around on water with sails on paddle boards.

When I reached Hove Lagoon the area changed significantly. Commerce was replaced by leisure. There was a wide promenade next to the beach with towering blocks of flats, hotels and restaurants along the main road (still the A259). Now I could see Brighton Pier. When I reached it at 12.12 p.m. there was no one to meet me. My old map showed two piers. Had I chosen the wrong one? I walked on indecisively, seeing that there was a further projection from the shore further on. It didn't look like a pier and I then realised it was the marina so I retraced my steps. Later I remembered that the old West Pier had been destroyed by fire. I'd already passed it before reaching the Palace Pier but hadn't noticed the ruins.

Back at the pier I met up with Al, an old friend from University days sixty odd years ago. He'd come with his son, Robert, who was accompanied by a young German Shepherd dog that he was looking after for a friend. Al now walks with a stick so we were starting to look around for somewhere to sit down when my other supporters arrived. These were my wife, Polly, her daughter Alex and granddaughter Imogen. I was awarded a medal and photographed many times. One of the photos was forwarded to the Brighton Argus who'd expressed mild interest in my endeavours.

Our choice of restaurant was restricted by the need to accommodate the dog. Apparently it panics and barks continuously if left on its own. We found a suitable place in the open air on the sea front. The dog then became useful as it kept at a distance the pigeons and sea gulls that were gathering en masse with the intent of stealing our fish and chips.

Distance today 6.56 miles; total 3970.46.