Near my house is the Medmerry cycle track where I love the freedom of whizzing along in my electric wheelchair. We have a bridle path that runs from our lane to the main road and the start of the track. The bridle path has been sloping sideways and it has always felt rather perilous; one neighbour told me she’d once come off her bicycle into the ditch! To avoid this, I’ve had to go in the car to get to the track. In February I emailed our Parish Clerk about the problem, and in March I received an email from a lady at WSCC. She told me that it may take over a year for any work to be done as funding would need to be decided, but it may be a project for volunteers. Just after Easter, a neighbour let me know that the path was indeed being improved by volunteers and a neat wooden wall had been installed along the most sloping part. I was then able to go from our front door for a lovely hour’s walk, and now weather is warmer, I hope to make it all the way to the viewing point with the Isle of Wight on the horizon! I may even make it all the way to Selsey one day!
If I am feeling brave, I can cross the main road at the end of our bridle path and this goes into the Pagham Harbour RSPB nature reserve. There are several smooth pathways to choose there and at high tide, it’s a really beautiful scene. Near to the car park there is also an accessible hide where you can look for lots of varieties of birds.
A short ride in the car takes me to the other side of the Medmerry Reserve (car parks on Easton Lane, Sidlesham or Earnley) and from there I can have an hour whizzing along until I finally reach a quiet beach. Along the way there are tidal pools with cows grazing alongside different types of geese and ducks. Another part of the Reserve can be accessed through the Seal Bay caravan park in Selsey.
I am looking forward to soon visiting the Arundel Wetlands Centre where a Changing Places toilet is being installed. This will make such a difference to me and I know it will for many of you too; at last we can enjoy a longer visit there!
Two other local walks I really enjoy are either side of Chichester Harbour. One is from the car park at Itchenor where the path goes through some beautiful trees down to the water and then continues along the beach. I was very happy to find a decking walkway at a point that used to be very narrow, and I have also discovered a gentle slope where I can actually drive very close to the water if there’s not too much seaweed!
The other walk is at Cobnor Point where the path is smooth and goes over two bridges and ends up in a little glade – a perfect picnic spot. Every time I have been over the bridges, I tell myself “look forward not down!” as they seem very high when the tide is out!
As you can probably tell, I love being outside near water or at the beach so an outing along the seafront at Bognor, Littlehampton or Worthing are on my list for the summer! In September 2019 I went with my parents and Limitless Travel to Llandudno where there is a really long promenade and pier. It was a quiet morning when we were there, so I put my maximum speed on and did an 8mph zoom for nearly a mile! The town has sea on both sides so we spent the rest of the day exploring; the other coast was beautiful with Snowdonia in the distance.
I could tell you about more of my adventures but will save them for another article!
Lizzie Baily 2023
If I am feeling brave, I can cross the main road at the end of our bridle path and this goes into the Pagham Harbour RSPB nature reserve. There are several smooth pathways to choose there and at high tide, it’s a really beautiful scene. Near to the car park there is also an accessible hide where you can look for lots of varieties of birds.
A short ride in the car takes me to the other side of the Medmerry Reserve (car parks on Easton Lane, Sidlesham or Earnley) and from there I can have an hour whizzing along until I finally reach a quiet beach. Along the way there are tidal pools with cows grazing alongside different types of geese and ducks. Another part of the Reserve can be accessed through the Seal Bay caravan park in Selsey.
I am looking forward to soon visiting the Arundel Wetlands Centre where a Changing Places toilet is being installed. This will make such a difference to me and I know it will for many of you too; at last we can enjoy a longer visit there!
Two other local walks I really enjoy are either side of Chichester Harbour. One is from the car park at Itchenor where the path goes through some beautiful trees down to the water and then continues along the beach. I was very happy to find a decking walkway at a point that used to be very narrow, and I have also discovered a gentle slope where I can actually drive very close to the water if there’s not too much seaweed!
The other walk is at Cobnor Point where the path is smooth and goes over two bridges and ends up in a little glade – a perfect picnic spot. Every time I have been over the bridges, I tell myself “look forward not down!” as they seem very high when the tide is out!
As you can probably tell, I love being outside near water or at the beach so an outing along the seafront at Bognor, Littlehampton or Worthing are on my list for the summer! In September 2019 I went with my parents and Limitless Travel to Llandudno where there is a really long promenade and pier. It was a quiet morning when we were there, so I put my maximum speed on and did an 8mph zoom for nearly a mile! The town has sea on both sides so we spent the rest of the day exploring; the other coast was beautiful with Snowdonia in the distance.
I could tell you about more of my adventures but will save them for another article!
Lizzie Baily 2023