Recent Bus Trips and photos
See you on the bus …… err boat....
Bus Trip Group visit to Chichester Shipping Canal July 27th.
Not daunted by the prospect of a long bus journey, three buses actually; and prepared for whatever the weather might have in store - how many times had we all changed outfits that morning; we set off for our July trip to Chichester and the Chichester Shipping Canal. Judging by the reaction when I mentioned the trip, I don’t think many people actually realised that Chichester had a shipping canal, I certainly didn’t.
The Chichester Ship Canal is 200 years old this year! The refurbished Heritage Centre, housed in the C19th Old Stable Block, details the history of Chichester Canal from its working origins, as part of the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal, a quick cut between Langstone Harbour and Portsmouth Harbour- which then linked up to London, to its resurgence as the recreational amenity of today. The Canal runs four miles from the Southgate basin in the heart of historic Chichester, just minutes away from the bus station, to the Chichester Harbour at Birdham. Management of the activities and maintenance of the canal is the responsibility of Chichester Ship Canal Trust, which leases the canal from West Sussex County Council.
The Canal Trust is a registered charity whose major aim is to preserve, maintain and improve the navigation between Chichester and the harbour – an historical monument to the transport revolution in Britain in the 19th century. The Trust is almost entirely manned by volunteers - who crew the boats, run the shop, bailiff the angling and carry out maintenance and restoration work. A further objective of the Trust is to provide amenities and attractions for locals and visitors to enjoy - narrow boat trips, rowing, canoeing, rambling, fishing, and cycling. The tow path, maintained by the trust volunteers is a designated public footpath, now part of the extended Lipchis Way.
We arrived in plenty of time to relax and enjoy refreshments at the Canal Café, where much of the produce is sourced from local companies, with indoor and outdoor seating offering outstanding views of the activities in the Basin. Mercifully early, Skipper and fellow u3a member, John, called us to board the 22 seater canal boat, Kingfisher, which we had to ourselves for the 75 minute return trip.
The canal, in an area of designated natural beauty has sections bounded by mature trees and also travels through open farm land with views of the cathedral and South Downs. The Kingfisher operates up to four scheduled trips daily, from spring to autumn, on the two-mile section of the canal which is navigable, between Chichester Basin and Donnington.
Our journey was peace and tranquillity personified, surrounded by an abundance of wildlife. John explained historic remains of original features, including the abutment walls of the Poyntz Bridge, close to the canal basin – the Bridge deck from the Poyntz bridge has been moved to the site of the Padwick swing bridge in Chichester where it is fully operational. On the return journey we gloried at the view of the canal against a 
backdrop of Chichester Cathedral and the Downs from the
Hunston Bridge, the same view painted by JMW Turner in 1828!!
Thankfully, with John’s early start, we were in plenty of time to catch our connections back for the last X5 to Warsash!
Southsea, D-Day Museum and Castle
On Wednesday 27th April, a record number of 26 members of the Bus Trip Group set off for Southsea – The D-Day Story and the Castle.
With so many people keen to go on the trip, it was clear that the group would need to split for the journey. While the X4 group headed directly to The Hard and a change for Southsea; the X5 contingent boarded the No 3 at Fareham and headed off on the scenic route, meandering along the back of Porchester, venturing through Paulsgrove to the QA, down through North End to St Marys and through Portsmouth into Southsea! Quite an epic voyage and all new ground for many of the group, a time to reflect on how lucky we all are in where we live.
Our first stop - for refreshments, was the vintage themed Pavilion Cafe, located inside the 1930’s Southsea Tennis Club pavilion, on the seafront. This was the first chance for the group to meet up, as we relaxed and chatted in our reserved area, The Wimbledon Corner.
Our main focus of the day was our visit to the D-Day Story, which reopened in 2018 following a massive refurbishment. Before actually going into the museum, we climbed aboard the impressive LCT 7074 - the last surviving Landing Craft Tank from D-Day, located outside the museum. A major project by the National Museum of the Royal Navy has restored the LCT 7074 to its former glory, bringing the experience of being on board to life. For months the ship had carried troops, supplies and up to 10 tanks at a time across the channel, playing a vital role in helping liberate Europe. Inside the museum, interactive displays and memorabilia tell the story of the secret plan and decisions made, leading up to D-Day on 6th June 1944, when planes and ships set of across the English Channel. One of the group remembered the day when the sky was black with planes heading off, but the secret was so well kept that they had no idea what was going on. A large gallery houses the impressive Overlord Embroidery – commissioned to remember those who took part in D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
We took time out to have lunch at The Courtyard Café, situated inside the walls of Southsea Castle – a lovely lunch in an amazing historic setting.
It was definitely an interesting day!!
Portsmouth and Gunwharf Quays
Stopping first for refreshments and a spot of modern art at the Aspex Gallery off Gunwharf Quays, we set off determined to ‘do’ the Millennium Promenade.
Rounding the headland , with Spice Island in view, icy gusts soon put paid to that idea and we headed back to the relative warm of the shops – where we mostly spent an hour or so browsing, but not buying a couple, not keen shoppers, hot footed it to the Slug & Lettuce! Either way it was so much more fun in company. We had a lovely lunch at the Spinnaker Kitchen and Bar overlooking the waterfront, before heading home on the bus – it’s surprising how short the journey is when you’re chatting all the way!