Been back nearly 2 weeks, guess I ought to talk about holiday.
Week on the Isle of Wight. Well, 6 nights, so near as damn it a week.
Arrived mid afternoon on Sunday, took a different route - going via Southampton and therefore Cowes instead of Portsmouth and Ryde. Nicely chilled out journey actually. Stayed somewhere new as well, not the best place on earth given they didn't clean the room at all in the duration of our stay. While we could get more tea and coffee and clean towels by asking in the bar it would have been nice not to have to. BUT it was nicely placed and very quiet.
The rest of the afternoon we just went walking in Ryde, went to paddle in the sea (the tide was out, so it was quite the trek to manage this!) and went for a magical mystery tour on the bus. Because I had a week rover bus ticket so I might as well get my money's worth!
Monday we headed West to the Needles park (and open top bus rides) for walks, sweet factory talks and watching men make pretty glass stuff. The weather was glorious and it was lovely to just wander around there.
Tuesday we went to Hogwarts. No we didn't. But we went on a lovely Steam Train ride and walked round the main station of that. The station had a "woodland walk" that had been decorated with various little scenes and signs. You really had to be there but it was hilarious.
Wednesday started the animal phase of the week. Went to Seaview Wildlife Experience or whatever it's called. Basically ALL THE DUCKS IN THE WORLD! Also the CUTEST FLUFFIEST ALPACA'S I HAVE EVER SEEN OMG I WANTED ONE! Also adorable Otters and Wallaby and Meercats and yeah. We managed to spend the whole day there just walking around coo-ing at them all.
Thursday we made it to Sandown and the Zoo. Somehow managed to spend the whole afternoon there. Listened to all the talks and watched feedings and just enjoyed the sun. Also did my good deed for the week by helping a French family get there (and explaining the bus timetable to them for their journey back) - they were in front of us on the bus with a leaflet asking the people behind them how to get there. The girls didn't know but I explained we were going there too and would show them (I even used a few of my very rusty french words to help them).
Friday was the day I FINALLY got to Robin Hill country park. I've been looking at the leaflets for YEARS but never made it there. A Red Squirrel walk and Falconry displays won mum over so we went. It was again, a lovely place to visit and a glorious day.
All in all, a lovely visit. Did some stuff we hadn't done before and took so many random bus journeys for some excellent views.
Arrived mid afternoon on Sunday, took a different route - going via Southampton and therefore Cowes instead of Portsmouth and Ryde. Nicely chilled out journey actually. Stayed somewhere new as well, not the best place on earth given they didn't clean the room at all in the duration of our stay. While we could get more tea and coffee and clean towels by asking in the bar it would have been nice not to have to. BUT it was nicely placed and very quiet.
The rest of the afternoon we just went walking in Ryde, went to paddle in the sea (the tide was out, so it was quite the trek to manage this!) and went for a magical mystery tour on the bus. Because I had a week rover bus ticket so I might as well get my money's worth!
Monday we headed West to the Needles park (and open top bus rides) for walks, sweet factory talks and watching men make pretty glass stuff. The weather was glorious and it was lovely to just wander around there.
Tuesday we went to Hogwarts. No we didn't. But we went on a lovely Steam Train ride and walked round the main station of that. The station had a "woodland walk" that had been decorated with various little scenes and signs. You really had to be there but it was hilarious.
Wednesday started the animal phase of the week. Went to Seaview Wildlife Experience or whatever it's called. Basically ALL THE DUCKS IN THE WORLD! Also the CUTEST FLUFFIEST ALPACA'S I HAVE EVER SEEN OMG I WANTED ONE! Also adorable Otters and Wallaby and Meercats and yeah. We managed to spend the whole day there just walking around coo-ing at them all.
Thursday we made it to Sandown and the Zoo. Somehow managed to spend the whole afternoon there. Listened to all the talks and watched feedings and just enjoyed the sun. Also did my good deed for the week by helping a French family get there (and explaining the bus timetable to them for their journey back) - they were in front of us on the bus with a leaflet asking the people behind them how to get there. The girls didn't know but I explained we were going there too and would show them (I even used a few of my very rusty french words to help them).
Friday was the day I FINALLY got to Robin Hill country park. I've been looking at the leaflets for YEARS but never made it there. A Red Squirrel walk and Falconry displays won mum over so we went. It was again, a lovely place to visit and a glorious day.
All in all, a lovely visit. Did some stuff we hadn't done before and took so many random bus journeys for some excellent views.