The Tropical Isle of Wight


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September 25th 2006
Published: November 2nd 2006
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London to Isle of Wight


Feeding birdFeeding birdFeeding bird

At Amazonworld
Haven't done a travelblog for ages so a weekend down to the Isle of Wight will do for my next entry!

The day we were due to leave started off a bit ominously. Mark, our friend we were travelling with, had arranged the caravan and ferry for the weekend. After Denise had gone off to pick up Mark I suddenly remembered I had forgotten to double check with the travel agent if we needed separate tickets for the ferry (all we had was confirmation in a letter). With some trepidation I phoned the agent who, to my horror, confirmed we did need tickets and they were sitting in her office in the Elephant and Castle (a journey of about an hour in the opposite direction)! Thinking quickly I put on a mock-angry tone and said this was all their fault and they better sort it out quick. I got a phone call back a few minutes later saying they had checked with the ferry and it was fine if we just turn up with the letter!

During the night I had left the sunroof on the car open by mistake and, of course, it rained, so both front seats were soaking wet! Also the window on the driver's door was jammed closed so we got strange looks from the ticket collector at the ferry with us sitting on top of towels and black bin liners and me not being able to open the window to hand him the ticket!

When we eventually set off for the Isle of Wight, with sunroof firmly closed, it was lashing down with rain, and it didn't stop the whole way. Mark reckoned the Isle of Wight was in the tropics and assured us it would be lovely and sunny when we got there, and sure enough as soon as we boarded the ferry the clouds parted and out came the sun!

On arrival on the island we headed to the Rosemary Vineyard so we could stock up for the weekend. Having acquired some dodgy wine (actually it wasn't too bad) at double the nomal price we headed off to our caravan. Once unloaded we went looking for somewhere to have dinner. We drove along the front at Shanklin and saw a couple of nice looking pubs, one was completely empty and the other one was completely full, so we plumped for
Denise and MarkDenise and MarkDenise and Mark

On the ferry from Portsmouth
the full one (The Steamer Inn) on the basis that they must have good food. Not only did they have great food but we were treated to some live jazz music.

On the Saturday came the climax of our weekend, at least for Mark! A visit to Amazonworld was further proof that the Isle of Wight is in the Tropics! Meerkats, ocelots, eagle owls and bearded dragons all featured in the 'Meet the Animals' session.

Lunch was consumed rather smugly in a fair trade cafe in Ventnor, followed by a hotly contested round of crazy golf, can't remember who won (it wasn't me). Sunday lunch was a much grander affair as Mark had booked us in to what he said was a 2 star Michelin restaurant (don't know where he got that idea from!). The Essex in Godshill did produce a good meal all round. Godshill is a pretty little village well worth visiting, especially if you're looking for Isle of Wight souvenirs or Scottish shortbread (strikes me that Scottish shortbread and for that matter Scotch Whisky, is found all over the world as is Coca Cola, Toblerone, and Imperial Leather soap).

After lunch we visited the
MeerkatMeerkatMeerkat

At Amazonworld
Needles, some jagged rocks at the head of a bay. We got some great views from the cable car which takes you down to the beach. While Denise took a nap lying on the pebbles, Mark and I hitched a lift with a boat to take us round to Yarmouth, where later Denise would meet us with the car.

On the Monday we cleaned the caravan and washed up all our dishes (why do women always insist on this?) jeopardising the livelihoods of some hard working cleaners. It was the end of a nice weekend, not luxurious, not thrilling but definetly nice.










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Carrisbrook CastleCarrisbrook Castle
Carrisbrook Castle

Charles 1 was imprisoned in this imposing Norman castle in 1647.
Yachts Yachts
Yachts

Off the coast at Portsmouth
FerryFerry
Ferry

Yarmouth to Lymington
Essex Restaurant, GodshillEssex Restaurant, Godshill
Essex Restaurant, Godshill

Where we had a very nice meal
HMS WarriorHMS Warrior
HMS Warrior

Portsmouth harbour
Multi-coloured rocksMulti-coloured rocks
Multi-coloured rocks

Near The Needles


8th November 2006

did not know until
Yes, until I read your travel blog: it does not seem part of Britain? Definitely a place worth going, but wonder if there's any airport there as I do not like and in fact maybe can't, travel by sea? Heard about there's a prison there, well I guess it is not the one that imprisoned the whos it again? charles 1? Great reading!
15th April 2010

The tropical Isle of Wight.
Amazingly pictures! I am so impressed that you stuck it out.

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