Saturday April 12th 2025 Biking Birder VII
Hello Sunshine People! xx
To say I am excited for the day would be an understatement!
First I have to pack the bike up once more and get on the road once more. I have had a couple of wonderful days with wonderful friends, Kerry and her famous nature-adoring son, Dominik. Charity shop shopping for new trousers and small cuddly toys for the bike; inspiring films enjoyed : The Bucket List and the Pixar film, Coco. A fabulous parade through Kerry's photographs from her adventure in Vietnam and Thailand with the bird identification app, Merlin, to help identify the birds seen and photographed. Vietnam firmly on my own birding Bucket List!
This morning Kerry & I are meeting for coffee and cake one of the most inspirational British Green Birders, Phil Villiers. Phil's story of fighting cancer and using Green Birding as a focus for all the trails that brought, is truly magnificent.
From Eling Tidemill cafe I have to cycle to St Mary's football stadium, the home of the sadly now relegated Southampton Football Club.
No one would believe it but it was a massive shock and delight when I found out that my beloved ASTON VILLA were playing The Saints today!
What with all the Champions League drama and the coming soon FA Cup semi final against Crystal Palace, I had forgotten to look to see who we were playing!
Joy of joys, we are playing Southampton.
Yesterday I sent emails to both Villa and Southampton over what I was doing and whether they could say if there was a place where I could safely store the bike during the match.
Hi Gary,
Thank you for getting in touch!
What an incredible journey you’re on! Cycling from Birmingham to Southampton and sleeping under the stars along the way is no small feat. It’s wonderful to hear that you’re doing this in support of such fantastic causes, including Acorns Children’s Hospice – a charity very close to the hearts of everyone at the Club.
Regarding your query about bike storage for the match tomorrow, unfortunately, as this is an away fixture, we wouldn’t be able to advise on facilities at St. Mary’s Stadium. I would recommend contacting Southampton FC directly, as they’ll be best placed to let you know if any safe bike storage is available at or near the ground.
Although, the research I’ve done some research on your behalf, please see this below…
Southampton FC provides free bike storage at St Mary's Stadium. The bike racks and motorcycle bays are located at the front of the North Carpark, closest to Britannia Road. Additionally, a bike shed is also available at the same location.
More details:
The bike storage is specifically at the front of the North Carpark, closest to Britannia Road.
The parking and bike storage facilities are free to use for those cycling or motorcycling to the stadium.
While the club provides bike storage, it's always recommended to use a reliable lock and potentially register your bike to enhance security, according to CT Safety Barriers Ltd.
https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/getting-to-st-marys
Wishing you all the very best with the rest of your journey and your fundraising – and of course, we hope you enjoy the match!
Up the Villa!
Kind regards,
Anthony
Both clubs were incredible in the speed of their responses; thanks Jazz, Anthony and Helen. Sadly nowhere could be found.
I phoned the Engineer's Arms.
The empathetic and wonderful Esme, the pub landlady answered and said, "no problem, bring it here."
THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS
So I will be standing with bike and The Lads outside the stadium before the match and if any Villa fans want to have a photo with me and the lads on the bike, well let's have some fun and shout the famous chants . . .
UP THE VILLA!
Ollie at Acorns
