Category: Isle of Wight

When I was walking along I noticed that there was a sheep tail on the floor which had a ring on it to ensure that the tail fell off. It’s all part of the docking process and it takes place in the first few days of the lamb’s life.

Anyway, I mentioned to Susan that Bev would like the sheep tail if she saw it. And half an hour later Bev comes skipping along ever so pleased to give me her new find. Which was the sheep tail. I rejected it….. Fortunately she hid it in a secret part of Gordon’s bag, so he’ll find that later on during the week.

We saw an adder…. It’s not easy to see in these photos, but for anyone interested, click on the photo to see a larger version of each image and the snake is visible.

Photos from the beautiful south coast of the Isle of Wight.

Bev has commented in a positive manner that this blog has become far too tame. There is perhaps some truth in that and I shall bear her very important feedback in mind. I won’t go so far as to publish the photo of Gordon doing things to a teddy bear that was being circulated this morning. All I’ll say is that I’m entirely shocked and disappointed in him, and I hope that Gordon will be paying for the stuffing to be put back into the teddy bear.

The day started, for me (and since I’m writing this, that’s the most important thing to mention) and three others. The pub, which I think was haunted, served breakfast and there was a selection of food laid out including a single mouldy strawberry and a banana that had seen better days. The rest of the cooked breakfast was though entirely satisfactory and we were given more than enough food. The staff engaged in a positive manner, so it felt a comfortable environment, and I left happy with the stay. With that, it was time to wave goodbye to the Highdown Inn, where the welcome had always been friendly and I probably should have found time to have a pint.

Then, just as we were leaving, the others arrived. I could hear Bev coming down the road and shortly after we heard her, we could hear Gordon complaining about how far he’d already walked. He had walked around 600 yards, and it was clear that he had thought about getting a taxi. Gordon decided to put some blister plasters on his manky feet and Ross had already spent some time bursting his blisters and bandaging them up. This walking is a dangerous affair…. My feet are in perfect condition, but that’s what you get from having a decent diet.

We started our walk, which went up the hill, and then I heard a female voice complain that Liam and myself weren’t waiting for the group. I called back who had said that and Gordon said it was him, so we just carried on up the hill. A hill at the start of a walk really isn’t what I want to be doing, but it didn’t last too long and before we knew it the coastal path was beckoning.

Bev tried to take a group photo, but it was all too faffy for me, so I rushed off to begin the walk. And I rushed off for some hours, ensuring that everyone maintained a fast and furious pace. It’s good to get the blood flowing through the body.

Susanna shocked a poor cow by walking past it closely, and then the rest of the group also meandered around this little collection of cows. Liam and I wondered why they walked by the cows and how they hadn’t noticed the big path through the field that went nowhere near the cows. But, we didn’t want to upset them by interfering with their choice, so we didn’t say anything.

A few of the group then decided to use the bushes as a toilet, but the competent ones of us knew that there were public toilets 50 metres up the track, so the sensible ones of the group used those ones. We soon rejoined the coastal path and I was disgusted to see that there was an adder just slithering about with absolutely no supervision. I took numerous photos before I remembered that I’m meant to be really scared of snakes. I’m just naturally brave and I forget these things…..

Gordon then won man of the day by buying some ice creams for his favourite members of the group. He made it clear that anyone he bought an ice cream for he liked, so I felt very pleased to get an ice cream and a flake. The ice cream was very lovely, and, just for the record, so was the flake.

The views along the coast were excellent and we were fortunate with the weather once again. It was surprising just how much of the coast has fallen away recently, with numerous path diversions and some extensive reworkings of where the paths now go.

Ross was being very brave with his hurty feet, and indeed everyone was doing well. Clive hadn’t had any incidents today and Gordon’s toes were in good working order. So, that meant before we knew it we had arrived at the Pearl Cafe in Brighstone. Gordon and Bev tittered about making immature jokes about the name of the cafe, but I decided to just let them get on with it. It’s like taking out a school party sometimes….

After we had walked around the shop six times looking for the cafe, we found the cafe, and then had a snack in it. Gordon purchased the cream cheese and salmon sandwich, or something similar, whilst I ate my two packs of Space Raiders I had purchased from the shop the night before.

Gordon then decided to shock the entire group by lying on the bench and exposing part of his body. I considered reporting it to the police, but apparently the bits he showed weren’t a crime to show. Bev had a good look and gave her critical judgement on what she saw, which she wasn’t entirely displeased with. Susanna really missed out there.

The walk in the afternoon to the hotel went quickly and everyone enjoyed the calm and competent way that the leadership team were dealing with the organisation. I also was very pleased with just how well the leadership team were doing, very impressed indeed.

Everyone was staying at the same location, with the exception of Clive. Clive instead was staying at an airbnb down the road, a rather thrifty option. The door was answered by a man with no shirt on, which I can’t imagine thrilled Clive.

Our hotel, the Wight Mouse, offered a friendly welcome and the room was clean and tidy. There are lots of drying facilities which is marvellous and there’s a decent view of an historical school building over the room. The interior has character and it seemed perfectly acceptable.

I’m having a total failure with dark beer or craft beer in the Isle of Wight, it’s been the longest run of disappointments that I can recall in any UK county, US state or northern European country. But, I had a feeling that tonight would be different, as the pub mentioned it has a range of different real ales, so I was confident they’d have something.

Did they hell…..

The barman made a recommendation which really wasn’t anything like what I asked about and it was clear the pub had neither dark beers nor craft beer. I must admit to being bemused by this, but I’ll just have to keep hunting. It’s certainly saving me money though, as for the second night in a row I just gave up with the pub’s beer selection and just had water.

Anyway, that complaint aside, the food was served promptly and the staff in the pub were friendly. The food was average, but it was reasonably priced and served as a large portion. The curry I had lacked any real depth of flavour to the sauce and could have been hotter both in temperature and spice level, but it was entirely adequate as a meal. Katherine’s parents came along to the meal and I do hope that our most raucous members didn’t upset them, namely Bev and Gordon. Although Ross can get a bit loud at times, but he was very professional tonight.

That’s enough of the negatives. Liam, Bev and I went back to walk a small part of the coastal path we’d missed to ensure Clive got to his accommodation, and then returned to the hotel. There was some live music on which reverberated around the rooms upstairs, and initially I thought it was surprising the pub thought the live music was a good idea given this, but it seems others have complained about it and the owners don’t much care. It’s nearly 11pm and the music is still rebounding around the hotel bedrooms, or at least the one I’m in. I shall tell them in the morning that I’m not entirely impressed, but I doubt it will matter.

So, that’s it for another day. I’m not sure that I’ve met Bev’s suggestion of being edgier, but it’s at least a permanent reminder for everyone of their marvellous achievements. And best of all, tomorrow is the big day, it’s the day that Richard P. May, one of the most senior Ramblers in the country, comes to join us for two days of walking.

Our first day of walking around the Isle of Wight took us from West Cowes to Yarmouth and it’s our longest day of walking this week at 16 miles.

The day was longest for Liam, who got up at something like 3am to drive to Southampton and then get the ferry across. He arrived on the island at just after 09:00 which is rather excellent going. As usual, and like me, he’s carrying too much weight in his bag.

The others all met up at 09:30 and we were ready to go, nine of us on this lovely adventure. I was particularly impressed with Gordon who gave me a bar of chocolate. He’s just a gentleman and he won the most generous person of the day.

So, we set off, and irritated with Bev’s faffing wanting a group photograph I walked off. I can’t be doing all that smiling at 09:30 in the morning, it’s ridiculous. One thing that is marvellous, it’s the weather, it was sunny and bright today. Although too hot. But at least there was no rain.

There were nine of us on the walk today, most of us with heavy bags and Gordon with his purse attached to his back. Ross was carrying a large weight and Clive looked like he was in the army. But I think we looked brave between us. Actually, with me in the front, I think that we looked quite rugged and majestic.

I decided, as the natural born leader on this trip, to rush everyone around to the first pub. So we walked around Yarmouth, with Katherine offering some really useful facts about the island from local knowledge that I didn’t know. Everyone was lovely company, it’s another nice group, although it’s a bit gossipy. On the speed of the walk, it was a good 3.2 mph I think, fast enough to get the distance knocked out, but without being too onerous.

We went through a town called Gurnard shortly after Yarmouth, and that’s really where we lost the coastal views for a while. Susanna taught me a lovely phrase, “low level irritation with people” and I plan to use it frequently. Being quite intolerant, I’m often at low level irritation level. This happens from time to time on aircraft where people irritate me. Bev will understand.

We went near a small town called Northwood, for those who have a ridiculously good knowledge of the Inbetweeners, it wasn’t as rough as that one. The walk then took us into Thorness Bay Holiday Park and there was a conveniently placed, well, convenience store there. Gordon bought himself some sweets, then Clive was so tempted he bought some sweets. Ross bought himself some sausage rolls and I had a little rest.

We got to our first pub, the Sportman’s Rest in Porchfield, at just before midday and even though they weren’t due to be open, they were. I rushed into the bar to order and I have to say, the beer selection was again not to my taste. But the staff were friendly and the beer I went for was acceptable. It was a nice location and we sat outside in the sun whilst Bev complained about something, I think it was her sausage rolls.

There was some confusion over the food order, but, in short, I got some free chips. What a most lovely bargain. The others had their lunches and we were ready to set off for our next pub. But not before Susanna and Bev had chatted to us about moths. Gordon called them mad. I didn’t disagree on this occasion.

Mind you, Gordon talks about mad, but he tried to fashion himself some implements out of wood to eat his meal with. He didn’t think he use the knives and forks on the table. He’d have been very good as a hunter gatherer, he has a very creative mind.

One nice thing about the pub is that Gordon and Bev had a little play fight. I love taking the elderly out for the day as it gets them out of their homes and they pretend they’re children again. Bev got sun cream on her nose and Bev made fun of Gordon’s head. Children, like I say….

The next stop on our route was Newtown Old Town Hall, which is a confusing sentence to write. This is a National Trust property and I have something to say about the prices, they’re just too high for families. This property had about ten minutes worth of visit to it and the National Trust shouldn’t in my view be charging families a fair chunk over £10. They’re meant to be the custodians of our nation’s future, not the organisation which sets out to deter families.

Fortunately we had a solution for me though, Liam is a member of the National Trust and so he went in with my camera to take photos. Saved me paying. It meant he got a history of the building that he probably wasn’t interested in whilst I waited outside missing out on that (I’m not paying £4.20 to get in, I’m not made of money). But I got the photos. Although one day I’ll get a life membership of the National Trust so I can visit this places. Perhaps in a few years.

The New Inn at Shalfeet was our next pub stop, an award winning food pub that has just reopened. I’d say here that the pub was fine, the staff were polite and it was clean and food being served looked decent. However, I just didn’t like it. The beer choices were again not for me and I’m becoming frustrated at how a few pubs are making no effort to engage with craft beer or going beyond the generic real ale options. Also, the price for the soft drinks I ordered was way too high. Frankly, I didn’t like the pub, it wasn’t for me, but perhaps it isn’t catering for people like me. Oh, and they had a spelling mistake on the menu. I know I make spelling mistakes, but I was just in that mood to find one.

Over the road was Shalfeet Church and Susanna, Katherine, Gordon, Susan and myself probably spent too much time in there. The heavily fortified tower was a joy to behold, a rare site to be attached to a church. On this, and numerous other matters, more will come when I write some further posts on these historic sites. Susanna, as ever, had some useful observations about the church, and it did feel packed with history. And about the pubs we visited, I have more to say about those. Actually, I always have a lot to say, but such is life….

Now, I can’t say too much about this subject, as Gordon has a very expensive legal team watching every word on this blog. But Gordon’s groin is giving him some grief. If he turns round then he yelps. There’s a consensus that he’s exaggerating it, but since he gave me some chocolate earlier, I refuse to believe that. He’s so brave.

Then it was the walk into Yarmouth and I gave permission to Bev to have a little swim. I am the guardian of the permissions on this, as I don’t want Bev jumping in the water willy nilly. She faffed about in it and then commented on how wet she was. So very brave for going in the sea though, it didn’t look very warm.

About thirty minutes later Bev tells everyone that she has left her glasses on the beach. I tried to do a deal where she bought Liam some drinks and he’d run back for him. Well, walk, he can’t run very far. I’d have gone back with him if he shared those drinks, but Bev decided she’d just buy some more glasses. Very much the Gordon approach if I’m being honest.

As we carried on, Ross decided to have a little laugh at Gordon’s purse and Gordon decided to suggest that Bev ate too much. She was livid. Actually, she wasn’t at all, she just plotted revenge. I worry about Bev the most when she’s being quiet and plotting revenge.

Ross was fed up with his feet at this point and I think we should have been carrying more water. I had enough, although only just, but as a group we should have had more. The heat did catch us by surprise, it was a sunny and warm day often with few clouds in the sky.

We then got to the hotel in Yarmouth, and, that’s all I’m going to write about the evening. Highly unusually, I’m redacting what happened. I say redacted, but I haven’t written it to censor, but it’s one of my favourite words. More on the evening of our first night will come later on, but for the moment, we’re looking forwards to a shorter day tomorrow, at just eight miles.