MarkN
Registered user
This was first posted back in October 2006 on AdvRider but Little Beemer dug it up again and I thought there might be a few people here that might like to read the report.
I'd had a few days off one week and decided that I would use the time to have a couple of days away before the weather gets too bad to enjoy riding for long periods. So I decided on the Isle of Wight. The IOW is the island right in the centre of our south coast and only about 60 miles from my house.
I booked a ferry over the internet and set off early on Wednesday morning for a 10am sailing from Southampton.
I was there before the ferry
But then the ferry turned up
we started to load and we were on our way
When I had arrived at Cowes I watched it return to Southanpton
I started to ride around the island and then came across the first town of Ryde, the pier going out to sea was just too good not to ride along it to the end
I was thankful it was a dry day as the wooden deck would have been quite slippery
The next town was Sandown, where I rode along the esplanade and looked at the sea
Soon it was time for some lunch so I stopped at a lovely pub called the Wight Mouse Inn and had Sausage and Mash and a pint of lemonade and lime
After Lunch I carried on the road on the south of the island and came across The Needles. They are a rock formation made from the lyme stone rock. To give it some scale, if you look closely, at the end of the rocks there is a lighthouse with a helipad on the top.
Carrying on around the coast I came across a lot of house boats, this one looked interesting
Then I realised it was a Bed and Breakfast!
This one caught my eye
Check out the name!!
As it was starting to get dark I decided it might be worthwhile looking for somewhere to stay for the night and found this place in Benbridge.
They gave me a lovely room for £40 per night
So I unpacked, had a shower, shave and put on some clean clothes and went and had a couple of pints of Old English and a great big plate of Mussells
Day two started with a ride up to a place called Godshill and I found this thatched cottage that dates from the 17th century
On the side of this building was a shop that sold home made cider
The village of Godshill is stunning
As I was riding along the road I came across another attraction
This one featured an old, slow mode of transport and some traction engines
It also had a shipwreck and marine museum onsite as well and being a diver as well I had to stop and have a look. If you look closely at the photo you can see a 17th century "dive machine" - basically a large barrel with two holes for the divers arms and a window for him to look out of!
I then rode up to Carisbrooke Castle, this was the place that Charles 1st was held before he was taken back to London for his execution.
I carried on around the island where the wind was really starting to kick up, the sea was smashing against the rocks below and making a fantastic noise.
It was becoming time for lunch again and I came through Old Shanklin
Sorry, having a bit of fun with Photoshop!
Where I found Henry VIII's Grill - as if!! So went in for Scampi and Chips and a drink
Sadly, time was all too short and it was time to ride back to East Cowes and get the ferry back home
Here are my tracks around the island
If you ever get the chance to go I can totally recommend a trip there.
I'd had a few days off one week and decided that I would use the time to have a couple of days away before the weather gets too bad to enjoy riding for long periods. So I decided on the Isle of Wight. The IOW is the island right in the centre of our south coast and only about 60 miles from my house.
I booked a ferry over the internet and set off early on Wednesday morning for a 10am sailing from Southampton.
I was there before the ferry
But then the ferry turned up
we started to load and we were on our way
When I had arrived at Cowes I watched it return to Southanpton
I started to ride around the island and then came across the first town of Ryde, the pier going out to sea was just too good not to ride along it to the end
I was thankful it was a dry day as the wooden deck would have been quite slippery
The next town was Sandown, where I rode along the esplanade and looked at the sea
Soon it was time for some lunch so I stopped at a lovely pub called the Wight Mouse Inn and had Sausage and Mash and a pint of lemonade and lime
After Lunch I carried on the road on the south of the island and came across The Needles. They are a rock formation made from the lyme stone rock. To give it some scale, if you look closely, at the end of the rocks there is a lighthouse with a helipad on the top.
Carrying on around the coast I came across a lot of house boats, this one looked interesting
Then I realised it was a Bed and Breakfast!
This one caught my eye
Check out the name!!
As it was starting to get dark I decided it might be worthwhile looking for somewhere to stay for the night and found this place in Benbridge.
They gave me a lovely room for £40 per night
So I unpacked, had a shower, shave and put on some clean clothes and went and had a couple of pints of Old English and a great big plate of Mussells
Day two started with a ride up to a place called Godshill and I found this thatched cottage that dates from the 17th century
On the side of this building was a shop that sold home made cider
The village of Godshill is stunning
As I was riding along the road I came across another attraction
This one featured an old, slow mode of transport and some traction engines
It also had a shipwreck and marine museum onsite as well and being a diver as well I had to stop and have a look. If you look closely at the photo you can see a 17th century "dive machine" - basically a large barrel with two holes for the divers arms and a window for him to look out of!
I then rode up to Carisbrooke Castle, this was the place that Charles 1st was held before he was taken back to London for his execution.
I carried on around the island where the wind was really starting to kick up, the sea was smashing against the rocks below and making a fantastic noise.
It was becoming time for lunch again and I came through Old Shanklin
Sorry, having a bit of fun with Photoshop!
Where I found Henry VIII's Grill - as if!! So went in for Scampi and Chips and a drink
Sadly, time was all too short and it was time to ride back to East Cowes and get the ferry back home
Here are my tracks around the island
If you ever get the chance to go I can totally recommend a trip there.
