16.11 Isle of Wight
0515 I wake up after a good sleep. The bed in this hotel is very comfy.
0600 I download walking maps for the day as well as purchasing a ticket for the Spinnaker Tower on Sunday.
0630 I head down to breakfast. I‘m the only person there at the start. There‘s a good selection in the buffet. On the TV there‘s lots of Brexit turmoil in the news.
0720 The sun is coming up. It’s overcast and misty.
0800 I head for the train station.
0815 I decide to catch the catamaran ferry to the Isle of Wight. The Solent looks quite still. I was hoping to stand outside but the weather is poor and the “sun deck” is closed. It’s so misty that there’s not much to see anyway. The crossing is very smooth. There aren’t many people on the ferry at this time of the day.
0835 The ferry arrives at Ryde on the Isle of Wight. I walk up to the High Street. Many of the shops as still closed. I hear the distinctive sound of seagulls in a seaside town. On the way back down the street I buy a Belgian bun from a bakery.
While waiting at the Ryde train station I see a notice warning of engineering works on the line to London on Sunday; the day I travel to London. I will need to see how that might affect me.
0951 The train departs to Shanklin calling at Ryde St John’s Road, Brading, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin. It’s an old train. I think it may actually be an ex-underground train. It rattles.
1010 We arrive at Shanklin. I walk around the town. In general, the towns on the island are bigger than I expected. But the overcast weather does cast a dready light. I’m sure they are more lively in Spring and Summer.
1054 I catch the number 2 bus to Godshill. I‘ve seen photos of thatched houses in this town and would like to check them out.
1107 The bus arrives in Godshill. I wander around the town. I think I’ve seen the best parts then I look at my map. I notice another part of town and wander up Church Hill. Here I see some more thatched houses around the church; gorgeous. I take a short stroll on a footpath out of town and see some of the countryside. I walk past massive fields of cabbages (I assume).
1206 I catch the number 2 bus back to Shanklin.
1220 We arrive in Shanklin. I’m going to catch the train back to Ryde.
1238 I’m on the train back to Ryde. I’m feeling quiet sleepy at the moment.
1300 We arrive at Ryde. I had hoped to catch the hovercraft back to Portsmouth. As a child, I remember seeing a hovercraft at Dover but I don’t think I’ve ever been on one. Unfortunately, when I get to the hovercraft “station” there’s a sign indicating that the service is temporarily suspended. That’s disappointing! I make my way to the catamaran ferry instead.
While waiting for the ferry back to Portsmouth I notice two large structures in the sea. At first I assume they are large ships. When they don’t move I realise that they are sea forts. Unfortunately, they are too far away and it’s too misty for me to get a good photo.
1347 We depart Ryde.
1405 We arrive in Portsmouth. I head to the hotel to freshen up and drop off my back pack. I’ll visit more of the maritime museums while I have the time and I want to travel light.
1430 I make it to the museums. It’s lightly spotting rain. I visit the Battle of Jutland display, the M.33 (a surviving ship from Gallipoli), the HMS Victory museum and the Naval Museum. I make my way to a shop and stop for a coffee and cake. Today, as with yesterday, I notice heavily armed police walking between the museums.
1551 I head back to the hotel again. The hotel is next to a massive outlet shopping centre. I decide to look around. I buy some light sweaters for my next trip to Bavaria at Christmas.
1655 I’m back in the hotel and working on my blog. I’m not sure if I’ll do anything for dinner; I’ve eaten plenty today. I’d prefer to sit in, read some of my acquisitions and head to bed early. I’d like to do some walking tomorrow.
