On the Isle of Wight !

The sight of two grown men crying wasn't pretty but nonetheless a reasonable response to having to leave after having been so royally treated by our good friends Kev and Julia in Poole !

Despite our reluctance we had a ferry to catch so off we set to nearby Lymington along busy main roads and winding narrow country lanes.

From Lymington our boxcar like ferry delivered us to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight (IOW) at a speed slow enough for you not to notice how much the Wight Link Ferry company was charging for the short journey (reputedly one of the most expensive per km in the world !)

Offloaded it was a straightforward enough drive to Sandown and our hotel that on first appearance had a clientele the average age of most nursing homes back in OZ - yes thanks we fitted in exceptionally well !

Christine a local school teacher, keen travel adventurer, fellow cyclist, Tajikistan team member in 2018 was to be our lovely host for the next few days. She started off her official duties by taking us down to the IOWs well known Sphyglass Hotel where we dined while taking in the areas lovely surrounds !

The day after we ventured out on a 3km walk towards the famous IOW Needles getting no further than 200 metres from our car before realising in the heavy rain and mist what a crazy idea this was.

Even returning to the car was difficult enough as we struggled to work out our way back in the misty  conditions.

We used the afternoon to dry out in a nearby pub and visit friends of Christine before taking in some slightly clearing views on our picturesque drive back to Sandown.

With the weather clearing it's looking like our planned cycle day on the Island tomorrow is going to be a great day to explore our beautiful surrounds.

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