As Christopher had missed out on our trip to Spain I thought he really deserved a very special treat, so I booked up for us to spend a night in Newport on the Isle of Wight. We travelled into East Cowes on the Red Funnel ferry and spent the hour long journey discussing what delights awaited us.
We decided that a visit to Osborne House would be in order and set off from the ferry full of optimism. Our hopes were dashed on arrival when we had to park on mud, and then saw the enormous queue. We decided that perhaps we could do without Osborne House when we saw that the entrance fee was £18 each - that's £5 more than the Alhambra.
As we are actually National Trust members, we made our way to the Needles Old and New Battery. This was much more to our liking as there were very few people and the entry was free (to National Trust members). The New Battery is a piece of living history, as it provided the site where the UK tested the rockets for its inter continental ballistic missile and space programme in the 1950s and 60s.
As we are actually National Trust members, we made our way to the Needles Old and New Battery. This was much more to our liking as there were very few people and the entry was free (to National Trust members). The New Battery is a piece of living history, as it provided the site where the UK tested the rockets for its inter continental ballistic missile and space programme in the 1950s and 60s.
It is an isolated and strangely beautiful site with a windswept path leading to the Old Battery. It was on this path that we passed a couple of young women wheeling their large suitcases but obviously intent on learning the history of the Needles.
One of the special features of many National Trust properties are their tearooms and their cheese scones. The Old Battery has a 1940s style tearoom housed in the Port War Signal Station. We had coffee and enjoyed more views
After our refreshment we visited the searchlight emplacement via a wrought iron spiral staircase. It was here that I discovered the sad news that the gold trainers that had carried me so well on Mount Ruapehu and on many other journeys, were worn out - had holes in the fabric and the soles were very thin. This would have to be their last outing.
As we walked back to the car we took one last look at the view
We now had the National Trust bit firmly between our teeth and the weather was lovely so we drove off to Mottistone Gardens. Here we enjoyed the herbaceous border, views of the Manor House, the kitchen garden, and of course the Tea Garden
In the Tea Garden there is a very interesting building known as the Shack. This was designed by the architects Seely and Paget and was used by them as an office retreat in the 1930s. It is furnished in an art deco style and looks like the perfect little place to stay, with bunk beds either end of the room.
After a reviving cup of tea, we rounded off our first day on the Isle of Wight with a walk to the Long Stone. This is, as the name suggests, a stone.
It stands at the site of a long barrow, and there are lots of lovely views. The gold trainers just made it.
We returned to Newport and our hotel. The best thing that could be said about that is that it was cheap.
The next day we rounded off our trip with a visit to Bembridge Windmill. Unfortunately it was too small to have a proper tearoom, but we did learn a lot of things about milling flour including the origin of phrases like 'grind to a halt' and 'rule of thumb'. The last owner of the mill found it quite scary, and I can understand exactly how he felt - the machinery all seems to be too big for the rooms housing it.
We returned to Newport and our hotel. The best thing that could be said about that is that it was cheap.
The next day we rounded off our trip with a visit to Bembridge Windmill. Unfortunately it was too small to have a proper tearoom, but we did learn a lot of things about milling flour including the origin of phrases like 'grind to a halt' and 'rule of thumb'. The last owner of the mill found it quite scary, and I can understand exactly how he felt - the machinery all seems to be too big for the rooms housing it.
Before the mill could grind flour the four wooden frames had to have canvas cloth fixed to them by a young nipper. Then the sails had to be turned so that they faced the wind. When the wind died, that was when the work ground to a halt.
The weather was closing in, and so after a nice cup of tea in Ryde we travelled back to the ferry port and the sea journey to Southampton where the bin awaited the gold trainers.