Friday 9^th May 2014

Weather in London was not looking good. Cloudy sky and blustery winds with the possibility of rain and 18°.

After checking out of our hotel we caught a cab to Waterloo station where we boarded the 10.05am train to Southampton Central Station, arriving just after 11:00am.

From the station we caught a cab to the White Star Tavern in Old Southampton, where we are staying for the night.

The White Star Tavern

As our room was not going to be ready until 3:00pm we went for a walk around Southampton, starting with the dock area, where all 3 Cunard Queens, Queen Mary II, Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria, are in port.

Queen Victoria

Queen Mary II & Queen Elizabeth II

We then walked along High Street to the Sea City Museum to see the Titanic display. Heading back down High Street we saw the ruins of the Holy Rood Church, which was destroyed during a bombing raid in WWII.

On the way back to our hotel we walked past the Tudor House, the medieval Merchants House and the old gate through the remains of the city walls.

Back at The White Star Tavern our room was ready so we checked in.

The Solent Sky Aviation Museum was not far so we set off again for the short walk there.

They have a number of historic aircraft including the last Sunderland flying boat to fly from the Sydney Harbour flying boat terminal at Rose Bay to Lord Howe Island. It is still painted in the Ansett livery. We were able to go inside the passenger cabin and I got a tour of the flight deck from one of the museum curators.

As Southampton was the birthplace of the Supermarine Spitfire they have a Mk26 model in the museum which I spent some time discussing with the curator.

There are also some cockpit sections of a Harrier and Supermarime Swift. Needless to say Maverick had to get into them and have photos taken.

Hey Goose this Harrier is different to a Tomcat

After returning to the White Star Tavern it was time for dinner. Roast Duck breast with polenta and cherries followed by dessert: rhubarb crumble for Lynne and sticky toffee pudding for me. All washed down with a pint of White Star ale for me and a Sav Blanc for Lynne.

P.S. Heather, on our walk we saw Red Funnel & Blue Funnel Ferry Services, maybe a relative of Grey Funnel??

The Funnel Family