Our 4 days on the island are up tomorrow. We are catching the morning ferry back to Portsmouth then driving 3.5 hours to Karen and Dave's in Saltash for the night. Our cruise (overnight ferry but we do have a cabin) leaves Plymouth Sunday afternoon for Santander. From Santander we will catch a bus to San Sebastian for 10 days. The forecast is for 38 degrees next week in Spain, it will be like being back on Kovalam Beach. Now you know where we are headed for the next couple of weeks back to the present.
The Isle of Wight is rural and coastal (obviously, it is a small island) and very picture postcard. I was here 25 years ago visiting Dave's Dad. Most of you know Sharon &Dave. Dave is married to Sharon (my good friend from Melbourne). They met 25 years ago when Sharon and I were travelling in England. Dave was born and grew up on the island till he went to uni in Manchester. Dave's Dad no longer lives here, he lives in Newcastle (England not NSW). We found Dave's old house and took photos for him. Sharon and Dave were married here so we went and looked at the church - another photo for them.
There is a chairlift on the island, at The Needles so of course we went there for a visit and a chair ride. The Needles are rock pinnacles jutting out of the sea. It is a tourist park but good fun never the less. We also went on a boat ride to have a closer look at the lighthouse and pinnacles.
From The Needles we drove inland to visit Carisbrooke Castle, a historic castle with an interesting history. Charles 1 was imprisoned and died there. We watched the donkey well display. Jimbo the donkey was a lazy thing but adorable.
Yesterday we drove round the eastern side of the island to Bembridge driving back through Sandown and Shanklin. The island is similar to Cornwall with narrow roads and rural country side surrounding the villages.
Today we walked to Steephill Cove - what a cute little beach. The Crab Shed had the yummiest crab pasties. I do love the deck chairs on the beach for rent both here and in Brighton. 2 pounds a day - a bargain. The chairs have a little sun shade - what a great idea!
I can't load all the photos for the Isle of Wight as the internet is slow here and after three attempts I have given up. It may be a while before I can get to do it now but here a few for you to look at.
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| Looking down onto Ventnor Beach |
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| Chairlift at The Needles |
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| The beach at The Needles |
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| Looking down into Carisbrooke from the wall |
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| Jim enjoying a crab pastie at The Crab Shed |
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| Self portrait(s) at The Crab Shed |
Hey Hap & Jim,
ReplyDeleteI am just catching up on your blog after not checking in for a few weeks so thought this was the appropriate page to comment on. We have loved hearing about your IOW travels and can picture you there - so many familiar & special landmarks & memories for us! We are glad you have loved your time there. I thought later that we should have put you in touch with Warren (Dave's old school mate) who is the only one of his old group to still actually live on the island. I forgot that he was there - but he would have happily met you for a beer or two! You have met him Hap but 25 yrs ago so don't expect you'd know each other! Funny, just tonight we have been watching a great SBS doc (on Scotland). Tony Robinson was doing a 4 day walk up near Glenelg, tracing the history of one of the Jacobite uprisings - very interesting & of course, magnificent countyside! We have talked about doing some walks there one day so this got us thinking & googling about other walks in the UK. There's a lovely IOW, coastal walk that I'd def like to do one day - walk around the whole island - which as you know is not very far at all! So many beautiful spots to see & experience, which you have really done on this trip. I wonder what your favourite place will be - at the end of it all? Of course, you know mine - Bonchurch - hands down! Can't wait to talk to you in person & see more pics of your amazing travels.
Chat again soon,
Take care,
Shaz & Dave xx