Portsmouth and Nelson’s Victory

Carol actually joined me for breakfast this morning – yay! There was another couple at breakfast as well so it was a full table. After the meal we said our goodbyes and thanks to Chrissie and headed for Portsmouth, only about 40 minutes away.

We arrived at the historic waterfront area about 10.30 am and bought tickets, and after some tea we headed straight for HMS Victory. It wasn’t until we were onboard and doing the tour of the ship that we discovered that today, the 21st of October, was the 204th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Amazing coincidence!

The tour was great , though unfortunately you’re not allowed to wander by yourself or take photographs, and it was just incredible to be on the actual ship, and to stand on the deck where Nelson died. Hell of a life your average Royal Navy man had.

We also looked at the one remaining sail of Victory, had a quick look at the museum – including a somewhat tacky ‘Trafalgar Experience’ – and had some lunch in one of the cafés.

Unfortunately, the Mary Rose is still not viewable to the public, and won’t be until 2012, but there was a good little museum displaying some 20% of the artefacts brought up from the sea bed. We’ll have to come back to see Henry VIII’s warship in a few years.  

Four hours passed very quickly but we had to get back to the carpark; though I’d forgotten to put the ticket on the windshield (and probably also lock the car) and we got a fine. 

An hour’s drive and we were in Salisbury, and got a room at a large B&B called Rokeby Guesthouse, which has – miracle of miracles – a king-sized bed and very comfortable mattress… at last! We walked into town and had a look around, and bought an umbrella just before it began to rain. An excellent dinner (and a pint of bitter for me) at the Coach and Horses, an old coaching inn. Carol soldiering on well!