The Shrine of St Swithun.

Today I have my monthly quiet day so I decided to make a mini pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Swithun in Winchester.

I last visited the shrine one year ago to offer prayers for my benefice as it was going through rather a difficult time. The effect was almost instant as no sooner had I left the Cathedral that I received a phone call informing me that a difficult situation had been resolved. Then over the course of the weekend several other problems where also resolved, followed by a continual improvement over the rest of the year. Coincidence? Perhaps, but I like to think earnest prayer undertaken as part of a pilgrimage was answered.

Today on a spiritual level was an opportunity to return to the Shrine and give thanks. On a motoring level I hoped it would be an opportunity to get some practice driving the 7 in the rain with the hood on which is something I have only done a couple of times. I am quite sure that on my summer trip I will encounter some rain. However even though I was heading for the Shrine of St Swithun synonyms with rain it has been a dry day, but very very could. It’s said that if it rains on St Swithuns’ day [15th July] it will rain for 40 days and 40 nights as a result of some monks digging up the poor Saints corps so they could build a nice cathedral and shrine, which in those days was very good for business. As a result of this exhumation it rained continually for 40 days. Finally I hoped to test my note book and write a BLOG entry on the road so to speak which is why I am writing this in a Café Nero in Winchester.

Winchester is only 60 miles from Shrivenham and the normal route is to head East along the M4 from Swindon and then down the A34 and onto the M3. But keeping with the principles of avoiding motorways I headed cross country down via Marlborough, Tidworth and, Middle Wallop. The route was great, clear roads with lots of nice bends and hills and the new Sat Nav worked well the journey taking about an hour and a half.

On route I drove past Thruxton Race circuit and as I have never been there before I popped in to see what was going on. Nothing! Race circuits are like ghost towns when there is no event, it was a good 20 minutes before I even saw anyone around so I was greatly temped to just take the 7 on the track but I resisted.

Parking a 7 is always a nightmare even though it’s small. You have to ensure you are not to close to anyone. Other divers often open doors heavily onto the 2 millimetres of aluminium body work sometimes leavening a hole or fail to see the car when reversing crushing the nose cone. Touch wood so far all is well and I found a good covered car park.

Time to start heading back as the staff are starting to think I have overstayed my welcome and at these prices another cappuccino is out.