Itchy Bosom Ferry

For my three year blip anniversary  I thought I should go somewhere important to me and where else but the lovely Chichester Harbour. In all the years we’ve lived here and before that, visited, we’ve never been on the Itchy Bosom Ferry, more formally known as the Itchenor-Bosham Ferry. Decision made.

The ferry takes walkers and cyclists from Itchenor’s public jetty to the Hard at Smugglers Lane, Bosham, which is where we were last week. It also operates as a water taxi for boats moored between Itchenor Reach and Deep End. The crossing dates back to the 17th century, saving walkers a journey of 13 miles round the edge of the harbour.

Until 1964 the ferry operated 24 hours a day but then was deemed not to be  used enough. It wasn’t brought back into use until 1976 when it began to run seasonally and  linked the footpath network round the harbour, to make a circular route via Bosham, Fishbourne and Itchenor, for the grand sum of £2.

Two ambitions achieved today, the ferry ride and making 1095 blips, though by circumstances I couldn’t do them consecutively. Having been told twice in that time that I would not survive, I am just jolly glad to have made it at all.