The past few weeks have been very wet here in the South of the UK, with Thursday seeing an almost biblical amount of torrential rain that has left a lot of places flooded and much worse so than in recent memories.
So, with the forecast being for sunny intervals and a moderate breeze (it originally said gentle) for today and particularly so for the Chichester area I opted in advance for a trip to the Chichester Harbour villages. High tide was due around 8am, coinciding with sunrise and I checked out a potential shoreline walk from Itchenor around to West Wittering and East Head.
Now, the best laid plans of men etc etc - my plan failed early on as I didn't get out of bed at the early hour that I intended. I woke early, but failed to muster enough enthusiasm to get out on this cold morning.
I had already known that it would be cold, both in the early hours and then throughout the day. I also needed to make sure I had a decent breakfast before leaving as, being diabetic, I need to eat well and ensure I have the regular meals.
Having got up later than intended and then made sure of having a breakfast that would 'stand by me', I totally missed any chance of catching the sunrise - I eventually left home an hour after the sun had risen and after scraping ice from my windscreen.
I had a very pleasant and sunny journey South, viewing the large amount of flood water at Pulborough before eventually deciding to stop at Bury Hill to look across the countryside towards Amberley. The view from the top of Bury Hill showed me the flooding caused around Amberley by the River Arun.
When returning to the car, my attention was drawn to frosty leaves alongside the path - so I took a couple of shots.
After that short stop, I continued my way South to Itchenor - a lovely harbour village within the Chichester Harbour area. Arriving there at 11am meant the tide was already more than halfway to the low that was due around 1.15pm. I had intended to make a shoreline walk around to West Wittering as stated earlier, but that plan failed when the car park machine advised that payment by card was not possible (I needed to pay with coins and only had enough for one hour). My error in not being suitably prepared, lesson learnt.
One hour of walking exercise in the very fresh (biting cold) coastal air was very welcome and much needed, but it was much less than I had planned and it severely reduced the photo opportunities.
I found myself 'trying to find something to photograph' , an unusual position for me to be in. I tried a few angles and made my way round the coastal footpath to the quayside at Itchenor.
A jetty led towards some moored boats and created a lead in line for a few photos, but I really was just clutching at straws for photos.
By this time, I was aware that my hour at the car park was running down quite quickly so I returned to the car and put the camera away.
Part of my original plan was that I would still be somewhere in the Chichester Harbour area for sunset. I have tried this at Bosham many times, mostly without the colourful success that I had been hoping for and the sunset was due to be at around half tide so Bosham harbour area was not likely to be very suitable anyway.
Online surfing had led me consider Birdham Pool & Marina as a sunset location, but I shied away from that when I went to scout it out at lunchtime - mainly because I never actually reached the Marina due to the dreadful potholes I encountered on the road to it, I just decided to turn around and avoid it.
West Wittering Beach is a very nice place, with sand dunes and with East Head as a good walking spot and I headed there next. There were definitely spaces available in the car park, but I turned around at the entrance when I read that ANPR cameras were in use and that by entering I was agreeing to pay even if I didn't actually park - it was still going to be £6.45 to park but it was already after 1pm, so I wouldn't have been there long enough to justify the cost. No reduced rate for only a few more hours of daylight.
Bracklesham Bay is quite close by and somewhere I have been to before, so that was my next stop. I could have parked, but lacked coins to pay and chose not to.
Thereafter, feeling quite annoyed with how my day had gone, I chose to just 'cut and run' and make an early return home.
A pleasant journey home, once I had got past the dreaded roadworks section of the A27 at Chichester, and a decent cooked dinner followed soon after.
It wasn't a wasted day, as the exercise and fresh air are good for my health, but it was a frustrating day and particularly frustrating photographically. I have learned from today though, about sticking to my plans and not to keep altering them and to make sure I have sufficient coins for car parks.
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