Selsey and (nearly) Bognor

Today was such a long and varied day that I've split it into two posts: here is part 1.

East Wittering,  where I camped, is maybe 1/3 of the way round the Selsey peninsula .  It's hard to say because there's the long inlet to Chichester Harbour on the west, and a nearly-enclosed inland lagoon, Pagham Harbour, on the east side 

I had slept well despite a nearby family with a whole cricket team of kids playing and partying way past my bedtime, which was unreasonably early.   In the morning I packed away my dry tent, dry washing, and went for an early breakfast at the food kiosk.  It was all the same staff as the night before,  I think the farmer and his wife plus one other chap.

In front of me in the queue were the mums of the cricket team.  I waited while they ordered nearly all the pastries on display and several coffees to go.  No worries, I wasn't in a hurry, and it simplified my choice of breakfast.

Still very windy, from the south west so mainly helpful, but as I rode towards Selsey at the southernmost point, I occasionally visited the coast, and it was wild.  I had to chance a bit of esplanade which was occasionally getting soaked by crashing waves.

Dodgy

Selsey's fun neighbour

Selsey is a modest place with a very long stony beach on three sides.  It doesn't appear to have flashy houses or any tourist facilities,  apart from a caravan "fun park"  just outside town.  The east-facing beach was sheltered from the wind and calm, with views of Bognor in the distance, and a cyclable path along the beach.

Inspirational view of Bognor

Selsey's east beach

Dovecot

Now, I just had to ride round Pagham Harbour, which proved a lot more difficult than it seemed.  It's quite a long way, and I didn't help myself by using several bridleways and footpaths.  It was fine at first to beautiful Sidlesham Quay, then I had to go a long way north on nice tracks, until the last one, a bridleway across a rough field. Part of it was a wheat field, so dry that large cracks crossed the track.  Surely the way back south to the waterside would  be plain sailing? But no, there was a footpath with two small kissing gates to get through.

Sidlesham Quay- nice

Bridleway - Not nice

Horrid

At last I was at Pagham, by the harbour.  It was the opposite if Chichester Harbour that I visited yesterday.  The tide was in, but it looked like shallow marsh land, with  no yachts in sight.  Pagham itself had a nice cafe (lunch stop), a shop and a pub; nothing fancy.  The beach was a bit weird with a shingle beach, then a bit of sea and then a long sand bar.  Someone was practising wind surfing between the beach and the sand bar.

Pagham harbour

Causeway to Pagham

The ride around Selsey peninsula was long but very enjoyable and varied.  Just avoid the bit at the end to Pagham!  The rest was quiet, rural, with a bit of seaside and some very varied villages.  A nice 45 mile tour.  It didn't feel like the south coast of England.

Part 2 coming tomorrow...