Tapnell Trail

We parked on the Causeway at Freshwater then ate our picnic on a bench overlooking the river Yar, admiring the swans and terns swimming there. After lunch we found our footpath and followed it along, eventually reaching Tapnell Farm after walking across several cropped fields and a sweetcorn plantation. We stopped briefly to use the facilities, then managed to completely lose the path we were meant to be on. After several false starts we said 'Sod it, lets walk across this field' and miraculously ended up in the right place!

The path led diagonally across another cropped wheat field and then another led down to a lane and onwards to the main road, which we crossed quickly. The next path led uphill and then right. We went wrong again, and walked round two edges of another sloping sweetcorn plantation before realising our mistake, retracing our steps and then walking through a sheep field and along the proper path; this was bordered by brambles (juicy blackberries), nettles and roses. We spotted two hares running around in the field opposite us. A magical sight! We turned right into a field and followed the top edge, crunching over wheat stalks, until we met the next path on the right which led past a field with a flock of birds, possibly starlings, that performed a couple of murmurations as we approached. Beautiful. The path came out nearly opposite to the entrance to the Causeway, so we crossed over, walked along, collected the car and drove a couple of hundred yards to the Red Lion pub and had a well earned coffee.

Distance: approx. 8.5 miles (supposed to be 6.5...)

Intended route: http://www.iowramblers.com/easy--access--trails  This is a more up to date version than I have and explains why we got lost!

November and December 2017

It has been a quiet couple of months as I have been struck down with viral vertigo and unable to do much. Christmas was spent quietly with family, starting off with candlelit Nine Lessons and Carols at St Mary's Church, then a week later the Nativity at Holy Trinity Church, followed by Midnight Mass at St Mary's. I hadn't been to Midnight Mass for years and it was really rather lovely.

Yesterday I dragged a friend out and we went for a soggy stroll around Newtown (I always forget how wet it is in the winter), followed by a delicious cup of hot chocolate at the Cow Co. at Tapnell Farm. Lovely! 

Today I went to the Quay Arts Centre in Newport for their Sunday Recital; this was Paul Armfield and friends and jolly good they were too! Paul was joined by, among others, Tom Thorne on piano, John Thorne on double bass, Wilf Armfield on drums, JC Grimshaw on guitar and mandolin, Angelina Grimshaw on guitar and vocals, other Grimshaw's on violin and guitar, and some extremely talented chaps on violins and mandolin. The start was slightly shambolic, but as more people joined in everything came together and a lovely time was had by all. A great way to spend a damp Sunday morning ( and the tea was good too!).

Wild Nights Out ....... June

Rhythmtree Festival Warm Up

We joined friends out at The Cow Co at Tapnell Farm near Freshwater for a warm up gig. Three bands played; we sat outside for the first two, who sounded good (and slightly bonkers for one of them!), and went indoors for the final band, The Ohmz. My friends husband was playing keyboards and we had fun listening to their excellent reggae tunes. Very good band, and worth seeing again. We ate burgers - yummy - and I drank soda water and elderflower cordial from the bar. Also nice. We might even go to Rhythmtree this year!

Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge
Teenager enjoyed this more than I did; I think the series is getting a little jaded now. However, the special effects were good and enough of it was funny to overcome the stilted acting. Not entirely sure why Paul McCartney was in it, albeit briefly - perhaps because  a Rolling Stone was in an earlier one? I preferred the Rolling Stone!