A sunny morning yesterday (29th) saw eight walkers meet at Ashlett Creek ready for a brisk walk and a lungful or two of fresh sea air.    The tide was low and looking towards Southampton Water we could see a large oil tanker dispensing its cargo at Fawley quay a few hundred yards away and beyond that sailing yachts making the most of the breeze.    Come the 9.30am deadline and we were off towards the south more or less following the coastline. 

The footpath was easy walking and led us through through narrow divides of brambles, bushes and other flora as well as open areas which afforded good views over the water where a seemingly overloaded container ship was making its way towards open sea.    Also the IOW ferry on its regular crossing to Cowes.      Continuing onwards we approached  a huge ominous-looking hangar surrounded by heavy fencing and coils of razor wire, so pretty secure.    The grounds surrounding it turned out to be a holding area for imported vehicles hence the high security.    Skirting some mighty big puddles and other mud patches we made our way via the pebbled foreshore to our destination at Calshot.  It was, unexpectedly, a fairly warm morning and most topcoats had been removed by then. 

A 10 minute breather and was time to retrace or steps more or less on the same path and reached Ashlett by 11.15am where “goodbyes”, “see you next week”s and “thank yous”  to our leaders were expressed before we dispersed our separate ways.