Day 4 Alresford > Eastleigh

What a luxury, full English breakfast this morning. It’s been cold soaked oats for the last two mornings 😝
The day started with a bit of leaf kicking to get the legs warmed up on this chilly morning, a fleeting visit to the Watercress Line steam railway station, we then walked past the actual watercress beds for which Alresford is famous and the train line gets its name. There were an abundance of birds including numerous storks and swans. This clear water was to be with us most of the day as we walked next to the river Itchen. We were so lucky to bump into a dog walker who stopped us & said unless we had wellies we were going to get very wet feet. The alternate route included a busy road without a path, we risked life and limb but our feet remained as dry as a bone! We visited the grave of John Hughes the last man to be hanged for stealing a horse. The Cricketers Inn in Easton was a must as it is the first pub in the Uk to offer an English style “peregrino menu” which is widely available to Camino pilgrims at restaurants in Spain.
Next stop Winchester Cathedral and a well deserved pit stop. Then onto St Cross Church & Hospital where we made our way to the ‘Porters Lodge’ to ask for ‘the dole’ a drink of beer and piece of bread. Roger was so hospitable & informative, a really lovely man, unfortunately we still had 7 miles to go so fueled by beer and bread we left. We have been so fortunate with clear blue skies and sunshine for our 21 mile day.
We’ve now made it to Eastleigh, the end is in sight..,Read more