Portsmouth for the Great South Run

After we enjoyed last years visit to Portsmouth for The Great South Run, we booked for this year back in November. And what a weekend it turned out to be with not a cloud in the sky for the whole of the three days.

We drove down on Saturday morning, arriving around midday. Although our room at the Holiday Inn (fifteen minutes walk to the start line) wasn't ready, we settled down in the lounge with my laptop to watch a very exciting Chelsea v Man Utd lunchtime game, with tea and a sandwich.

We unpacked after lunch and headed out to the sea front. Instead of turning left towards Southsea as we did in the raging gale of last year, we turned right and walked along the Millennium Promenade in warm sunshine with no wind. There are all sorts of old fortifications starting with the Spur Redoubt just past Clarence Pier.

Then past the the Long Curtain Battery, the only remaining ramparts and moat that enclosed the town. Next the Square Tower and the Round Tower and other historic features all the way to The Point where there are great views to Gunwharf Quays and Spinnaker Tower.

On our way back, we met a few friends from Alison's running club and walked with them back down to Clarence Pier and beyond.The walk along the front in the superb mid-October sunshine was amazing.

In the evening we had booked for Carluccios at Gunwharf Quays. We had to walk from one end to the other to find the restaurant at the Waterfront. Inside was huge, extremely busy and acceptably noisy. We had a lovely meal and the service was fine.

Afterwards we walked around the harbour and the foot of the Spinnaker Tower.

Sunday was the day of the big race. More on a separate posting. We were quite tired in the afternoon, but still managed the same walk as the previous day, this time finishing with an ice cream! In the evening we met up with some more friends at the Brewhouse and Kitchen where we were this time last year.

We enjoyed our great burgers and sampled some of their beautiful beers made on the premises. All outdone by the superb service. Tiny tots of the beers to decide what to choose and even a final bar service at the table which is very unusual.

We left the hotel on Monday morning and drove the very short distance to the underground car park at Gunwharf Quays. We came out again at the Waterfront, this time in the daytime.

However the purpose of the morning was to go to the Asics store in the huge, modern shopping centre. We both bought new running shoes "etc".

There was no time to explore any more shops as we were meeting my brother John and his wife for lunch in Lyndhurst. The food at The Forage was excellent, a perfect end to three glorious days.