Lately I have felt like a travel agent. Scouring over websites, looking for accommodations and things to do in different places we want to travel. Similar to booking an unknown restaurant reservation for you and friends, I have a love/hate with booking accommodations. On one hand, I love looking for the perfect place but there is the pressure for it to be just right! I feel the same way about choosing the restaurant-you want it to be the perfect ambiance and delicious!
The Isle of Wight is small island (23 miles across) off the south part of England. It is an hour and a half away from us via car. It reminded us so much of heading up to the San Juans. The race for the ferry, leaving early enough not to hit traffic and the joy of making the ferry and relaxing for the 40 minute ride across. BUT the beauty of this ferry system is that you can make reservations for a specific ferry-how brilliant is that? Of course if you miss it you have to wait for the next available spot but don't think that is too big of a deal.
Leaving Portsmouth
Arm wrestling on the ferry...like ya do
The Isle of Wight has a couple of towns on the west side that are very beachy and touristy and one on the east side that is very posh for the "yachting" set. I ended up finding a converted barn in the middle of the island that was fantastic. Three bedrooms and three baths - it was considered "self-catering" which was perfect for us. The bonus was since we were driving on the ferry we could bring as much crap as our car could hold!
The barn was on a farm called the Little Upton Farm...100+ acres of fields of sheep, a lake and gorgeous views of the island. The folks that owned were darling and train border collies to herd sheep. They had a trampoline, ping pong and left us the most delicious caaake on our arrival! Central location and close to everything the island had to offer.
Steam train that worked hard to get up the hill
View from our barn
Old barn things from yore
The Little Upton Farm
Sheep
Doing a little dance
We loved this tree
Waiting for the train
The road to the farm
The first day we went to Newport, the main town in the middle of the island. The owner of the Little Upton Farm recommend a great Italian restaurant to us for lunch...turns out to be the best food we have had since we had arrived in the UK! After lunch we headed to West Cowes (the yachty town) to find the beach and look for treasures. Cowes was charming, full of colorful buildings and had a great stretch of beach! We found tons of shells and sea glass! May was in heaven!
All fine yachtsmen must sail in pink pants and a navy blazer
Attack of clammy hands
Finding treasure
Popeye...I yam what I yam
On Sunday, Henry wasn't feeling great, so May and I set off to the more touristy side of IOW. We parked in Ventnor and walked all along the seawall in blustery rain! It was very beautiful but not really beach weather so May and I had high tea in Shanklin. Shanklin had some lovely thatched roofed cottages and a sea front esplanade (boardwalk) that really resembled the Jersey Shore boardwalk (never been there but I have, of course, seen the Snooki and Jwow version). There were rides and all sorts of touristy shops and attractions. Uh, no thank you. I am sure it is lovely in the warmer, summer months, but totally not our scene. Unfortunately the next town, Sandown, was the same way - a little Santa Cruz boardwalkish...
Ventnor beachwalking
Shanklin
When we got back, Henry was feeling better and ready for a walk. We walked all along the farm's perimeter, through the sheep fields and down to the steam train tracks. Simply gorgeous. We worked up and appetite and went BACK to the Italian restaurant's new location in Ryde. Simply delicious again! Highly recommend Olivo Italian!
May's new buddy
View from our deck
Seaglass Barbie by May
On Monday morning, the owner gave us a great demo of how her Border Collies herd sheep-think Babe the movie, but with a dog. Henry and May went out with her and Pete and I stood and watched under the umbrella. It was cool and we were able to explain the kind of dog training my dad does with his Labs.
We packed up and headed out to the northeast tip of the IOW where there are some beautiful walks to some dramatic chalk cliffs. Of course when we got there, it was an attraction-like environment (think carousel, mini golf, arcade games). We took a CHAIRLIFT down to the beach and then strolled the beach, checking for shells and sea glass along the way. There was some major erosion going on, all different colors of sand, and then culminated in a chalk white cliff. It was really cool.
Cool staircase and a cave in the side of this cliff
Eroding chalk cliffs
Riding the random chairlift
Water is white from the eroding chalk
After that we jumped on the ferry and headed back...a great mini-break to be had!
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