WANDERLUST KING

I was walking a couple of mornings ago, the cold fresh morning air cut through me like ice shards and as I watched my breath appear like dragon smoke around me, I looked up to the sky to see a perfectly formed plane cloud trail; frozen still, as if it had been imprinted perfectly in the sky at that exact moment I looked up, for the exact purpose that it would begin a thought process that would last the rest of the day.

I started to think, that perhaps the world rolled out around me as I went around my business, that perhaps the moment I left a room, that room ceased to be. Except we all know this is isn't so, because for every moment that I live and breath some one else is living and breathing the same air I do, staring at the same sky and wondering the same things as I.

I've always felt an affinity to the Earth, I grew up surrounded by rolling hills, rivers and streams that flowed freely through the land, even now I live by the ocean and find perfect peace from just staring out to the far reaches of the globe from the shore, even on the grayest of days.

I began to look at the cloud trail in the sky that had already begun to dissolve into nothing, in an hours time there would be no trace it had ever even existed, except I knew it had. 

Of course that plane wasn't flying that route for my benefit, but I had witnessed it, I considered all the people aboard that plane, where they may be travelling to, or from. Just like that, it hit me as though a shard of ice had pierced right through my heart, I wanted to be on that plane, not just that plane, any plane, a boat, hell even a train, just to feel the earth moving beneath me, to be on the road.

Wanderlust had struck. I've never been one to sit still, I move a lot, I've come to feel as though the road is my true home, Malvern the place I was born will always be where I call home, but I find with each passing year that it feels like a memory from a past life. When I tread on it's concrete it feels like I'm walking through old photographs, that's more or less what every place feels like to me. 

Home tends to be where I'm living at the moment, home is my friends, my family, the things that bring me peace, comfort and excitement.

I've had more jobs than most of the people I went to college with, I've walked more steps than I care to remember and I feel as though I've lived three lifetimes or more. People call it irresponsible, a defect for having no desire to settle down, but it's in my heart, that I couldn't be in one place for all time because each passing day is all I have, there's so much to see, to experience, to learn.

After all, the countries though separated by oceans are all joined to make one planet, the people though many strangers, are joined by life force as one community, so I see the Earth as my home, the road as my compass. The sun is my breath, the moon is my spirit.

With every day, month and year that I gather in my journal, I feel like a wine that tastes sweeter with age, I feel as though I'm getting better with age, I was so unsure of the world a few years ago, I was so scared to make any real leaps into the blue, these days it's almost a hidden driving force, I have no real plans for the future, I have an idea of the things I'd like to do, but mostly I'm just going to keep dancing to the beat of my own drum.

The way I see it, what people think of me, shouldn't bother me, it shouldn't sway me, it shouldn't stop me. I'm simply a tiny ball of energy, spinning on one hell of a ball of energy that's spinning so fast it appears still, that's spinning through the solar system, that's expanding through the universe and those things are incredibly huge, and I am incredibly tiny in comparison, but no less real.

I wanted passion, so I chased it, I wanted comfort so I chased it, I want to live, so I'm chasing it.

However you look at life, whoever you have in life, I urge you to close your eyes, clear your mind and picture living, what does it look like?

If it doesn't look like what's around you when you open your eyes, then my advice would be really open your eyes to see what's around you, maybe not immediately, but what's beyond the walls, beyond the town limits, beyond the fields, hills and oceans, what makes your heart thump, what takes your breath away, what makes your spirit happy?

LOVE & PEACE

Snapshot Location // Gosport // Hampshire // England

Gosport // Hampshire Map

Steeped in Naval, Military and Nautical history, the harbour town of Gosport is situated South of the Forest of Bere, west of Portsmouth and east of Southampton. I was a teenager when I first moved to the coastal town. I returned in my mid twenties and here for the moment I call this town, home.

Residents of the town are within easy access by ferry, train, bus or automobile to reach Portsmouth whilst the hovercraft and ferry services offer passage to the ancient Isle of Wight. Southampton can be reached by land transport. From any one of the three pebble beaches there are views across the Solent to the Island, Hythe, Fawley and The New Forest.

Haslar Marina // Gosport // KG

A popular shipping lane, providing routes for the worlds cargo containers, cruise ships and sailing yachts.
Most days yachts, ferries and tankers are visible from the beaches. In the summer races, rallies and water sports take place up and down the beaches, Stokes Bay, Lee-On-Solent and Hill Head beach.

Gosport Snapshots // KG

It's not just the scenic beaches that are popular, Gosport is home to several large marinas. Gosport Marina, Royal Clarence Marina and Haslar Marina. All locations have seen much development in recent years, mostly boasting luxurious living spaces, a handful or brasserie and seafood restaurants as well as walk-ways around the harbour.

Photograph by Rob Nunn

With an abundance of Victorian terraced houses, 1930's semi-detached properties and refurbished buildings, there's plenty of choice for house buyers and renters within the towns proximity.
It looks similar to other English towns, but for me the ocean covering three sides of Gosport makes it feel more like an island and certainly less landlocked than my scenic hometown in the Malverns.
As you head inland you come to the large housing estates of Rowner and Bridgemary, both of which play home to many of the young families in Gosport and host the two large secondary schools. Closer to the beach is Bay House school the third secondary school within the town, that lies within walking distance of Alverstoke village.

Alverstoke Village is another beautiful location, lying between Lee-On-Solent and Haslar Marina, it's older cottages and Edwardian properties are situated between the beach and the creek, while the original village still has it's own shop, pub, tea rooms and salon which sit just behind the large church.

While it's scenic views of rows of houses and beaches are to be admired, Gosport has not been left behind by the 21st Century. With a bustling high street that holds a market and home to chain brands while there are still independent stores, coffee houses and second hand shops, that give the town centre an eclectic mix of shopping with something to suit everyone.

With large supermarkets located in the town as well as just outside of the town, there's plenty of options for buying food, necessities and basics. If you'd prefer more natural there are several garden centres located outside of Stubbington and Titchfield Villages.

Gosport // KG

People tend to share the notion that Gosport is a has-been town, that once the Naval trades moved out, it was left dilapidated, but as a non-Gosport born resident I can say that one thing this town has developed which most others seem to lack, is a community feel. Yes there is crime and yes there are properties that leave much to be desired but every town has those and to judge an entire population on the image of only a few hardly seems fair.

With it's community events, radio, studios and youth clubs Gosport has the potential to be a thriving town in the future.

Close enough to get to London and back comfortably in a day, with access to two large trade and industry cities, close to several large forests and nature reserves, bordering with five beautiful counties, Hampshire and Gosport in particular are perfectly lovely places to live and visit.

If you're visiting Gosport I'd highly recommend checking out the following destinations.

The Alverbank Hotel

The Alverbank Hotel  is a beautiful country house hotel that overlooks Stokes Bay beach. With a bar restaurant it's the perfect place to spend a few days in the Summer.
The Anglesey Hotel in Alverstoke also is a beautiful old hotel that sits on the terrace of white houses just a few minutes walk from the village. The bar has a beautiful garden for summer ciders and ales, or it's beautiful interior for keeping warm in the winter months.
The Old Lodge Hotel situated in Alverstoke Village is the third destination I would recommend staying for the duration of your visit. A short walk fro the beach and close to the church, this hotel is beautiful and luxurious.

If you'd like to learn about the Town's Marine industry check out The Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower and Gosport Diving Museum.
If you're more interested in the ancient history of the town, why not check out Little Woodham Living History Village. You can learn about ancient crafts, immerse yourself in middle ages Gosport life.

For somewhere to get lunch or coffee, try The Blue Bird cafe in Lee on Solent, Coffee #1 in Gosport High Street and for eats any of the restaurants dotted up and down Stoke Road.

Residents of Gosport have plenty of options for keeping fit, if running, skating or cycling along the seafront doesn't excite you, you could always try Gosport Leisure Centre, that boasts an impressive package of keep fit activities, from sports, to gym, pool activities and studio classes.

If further education is what you're seeking, you could attend St.Vincent College located a ten minute walk from the town centre, offering full time courses as well as adult education, there really is something to suit everybody.

If keeping fit and education aren't what your seeking from your spare time, how about checking out local arts events. From music festivals, to sporting events and theatre shows, Gosport is truly alive with the arts.

You can check out a number of the local bars that offer covers bands and tribute acts to dance to at the weekend, karaoke for the braver among you. Original live music comes in the form of Club Sandwich, a monthly gig night hosted by the directors of Quay West Studios (home of music in Gosport).

Located just outside of Gosport and the village of Titchfield is Titchfield Festival Theatre and their shows are something truly spectacular to behold!

If there's nothing you fancy in Gosport, then check out Southsea with it's abundance of music venues and theatre group, Hayling Island Station Theatre also hosts excellent performances.

Mostly Gosport is a cosmopolitan town with a good community group that provide the town with arts, sports and education. It's a quiet town with beautiful ocean views and well worth a visit in 2015.
If you live in or around Gosport, why not subscribe to LBWC blog as I frequently cover local events, things to see and do as well as all local music coverage over at LBW.
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KG

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