Isle of Wight

Another perfect day weatherwise and activity- wise. I so appreciate every day and consider myself so privileged to be able to see and experience so many wonderful things.
We started the day close to Shanklin at Yarmouth headland affording marvelous views of the magnificent oastline. The early morning sun cast its silvery rays on to the stillest of still water. Itvwas such a peaceful spot, but from the looks of the bent over shrubs and bushes, it can be very blustery. 
We had two main visits today, the first being Osborne House, home to Queen Victoria and Prince consort Albert until she died there in 1901. It seemed even more special that we were visiting this majestic property belonging to the queen who had reigned second longest to Queen ELizabeth II. Actually, we must thank Queen Elizabeth for releasing the property to the public in 1954. The fabulous gardens we saw there had been planted with 13,000 plants for her Jubilee earlier this year, and now the flag was at half mast following her death.How quickly things can change.

I didn't know much about Queen Victoria before, but learnt a lot of interesting facts. Albert died very young, at the age of 42, and she apparently wore black until she died 50 years later. Fortunately she had a large family to keep her company, and a fantastic place to live! How I would have loved to wander down to the beach every day. Unfortunately, I got badly bitten by lots of little sand fleas, and am still suffering a week later! ( I am way behind with my writing).

It would also have been nice to have this strange- looking changing shed. I have never been a fan of changing on the beach under a towel, but am not sure I would have gone to the lengths Victoria did to strip off in the shed, get wheeled into the sea and then to only be seen publicly when she was under water. 

I am not particularly keen on stately homes. I always feel that the show of wealth is excessive. However, it seemed unbelievable to be standing in the bedroom where Queen Victoria died in 1901. In years to come, visitors will perhaps stand in the room where Queen Elizabeth passed away. 

Our next visit was to the Needles, some very distinctive chalk stacks jut out to the sea on the most westerly point of the island. In the distance we could see the Dorset coast.

To get down to the beach , we took a quaint old chairlift down the cliffs. I have to admit to wondering how old it actually was and how secure it was as we swung away from the top station, but apparently, it has an excellent track record. The vews were spectacular, both out to sea and down to the cliffs below us.

What a fabulous time we had walking along the beach with the wonderful sea views on the one side and the brightly- coloured cliffs on the other. They were extraordinary.

Rabbies drivers do their best to take you off the beaten track and today was no different. We visited the most unusual, thatched church. Dan, the driver, reckons it is the only thatched church in England. saint Agnes, Freshwatert was a brilliant quick visit. The inside of the church was even more attractive than the exterior, and the individual kneeling cushions were besutifully decorated, some for the Jubilee. Although it looked old, the church was in fact only built in 1908!

A further extra stop was at picturesque Freshwater beach. What a gorgeous place it was with its red hot pokers providing a super splash of colour to contrast with tge beautiful blues of sky and sea, plus the stunning white cliffs of Tennyson Down lin the background.
It was such a restful place with such calm sea and not abreath of wind. It must have been wonderful to canoe or swim there.

The coastal road is breathtakingly beautiful, with golden grassland and farms on the one side,

and a truly spectacular coastline on the other where steep cliffs descend to long stretches of golden sand - a haven for dog walker!

Our final evening was wonderful, not only because of the delicious seafood pie we had in a tiny thatched pub at the end of the Esplanade, with great service and an excellent glass of NZ wine, but also because of the balmy evening temperatures and colourful sunset.

It was a memorable finish to two lovely days on the Isle of Wight. I would love to return one day. 










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