Mother's Day

I began the day with a fried breakfast in bed courtesy of the teenager, then I hoiked her out of the house for a stomp around Parkhurst Forest. I had forgotten that it was likely to be squelchy so my lightweight trainers got a bit soggy. Ah well. We had a good stomp around, starting by walking up to the squirrel hide and spending a few minutes sitting quietly and listening to the bird song. We then carried on and presently heard lots of whooping and yelling; this turned out to be a pack of adults running round the forest on a 'hash' looking for piles of sawdust to show them where to go, and blowing hunting horns as they went. Everybody seemed to be having fun, and it made us laugh. It appeared to be a cross between orienteering and foxhunting without horses or foxes.

 

We continued on, following paths at random, mostly keeping our feet dry, and commenting on how full the streams and ditches were. After about an hour we made it back to the car and then headed to Forest View nursery for a cup of tea and more nattering.

In the afternoon I took my Mum out for a cup of tea and a slice of cake at Isle of Wight Pearl on the west coast. The cake is to be recommended; I had the chocolate cake and Mum had coffee and pecan. We bumped into friends who were also very pleased with their cakes! We then drove along the military road to Freshwater Bay and back home. Lovely Island!
 

View from squirrel hide

Ryde to Seaview

I met up with a friend today, after we had planned to walk from Ryde to St Helen's and back. While I was waiting I watched the ducks and geese on the boating lake who were in full voice trying to woo each other and fight off competitors.  We walked along the seafront from the Duck cafe to Seaview, but the weather was against us so we called in to the bar at the Seaview Hotel to get out of the rain and have a coffee. We ended up staying for a sandwich too (yummy) before heading back into the drizzle and back to Ryde.

Despite the weather this was a lovely walk! The tide was out and the beach from Appley to Seaview looked glorious, and the views to the sea forts in the Solent were good. The  bar at the hotel was cosy and full of old prints of photos of the Island, and the sandwiches were generously filled. I shall definitely go back! 

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4697812.html

Distance: 4 miles

February

'Hidden Heroes' Exhibition
We popped into the Quay Arts Centre to view their latest exhibiton on 'Hidden Heroes'. This was about Isle of Wight people, and ranged from the last Jutish King on the 7th century who repelled the Anglo-Saxons, and ensured the Island was the last place in Britain to accept Christianity, to Andy Stanford-Clark, a Master Inventor for IBM who amongst many other things helped invent Facebook messenger. In between were people who worked on Thrust II, the Black Arrow space programme, Julia Margaret Cameron (Victorian photography pioneer), Isabella de Fortibus (last independent Lord of the Wight in the 13th century) and several others. Very interesting.

Ryde to Quarr Abbey
A brisk walk this afternoon from Spencer Road to Quarr Abbey and back following the coastal path. Stopped for coffee and cake, obviously!

Quiz Night
The scouts (Explorers?) that are attending the next World Jamboree organised a quiz at Corf Camp to raise funds. I joined some friends for the night and somehow we managed to win by a reasonable margin! I was somewhat delighted at the outcome, and the box of chocs that came with it!