IOW CYCLE RIDE-SEAVETS REPORT by Dave Gilchrist

DAY ONE

Monday morning 11 May dawned outside John Ellis's House on Hayling Island as we all assembled for the 5th annual Round IOW cycle ride. I say all as we had a record 8 participants this year namely, John Ellis, Kerry Hastings, Andy Lacy, Joe Coulson, Nick Rose, Steve Fletcher, Richard Williams (our illustrious organiser, planner and leader) plus yours truly Dave Gilchrist. Our first decision facing us was what to wear, shorts or leggings, long sleeves or short sleeves?, how many layers? Much discussion and all caused by the NOT forecasted rain shower descending upon us just before departure time! Richard had failed us! Never happened before, what's going on? Worry not, the rain stopped 5 minutes after departure and never returned over the whole 2 days. Bravo Richard! 

Heading south down 'The Hayling Billy Trail' we had an RV with the pedestrian/cycle ferry from Sinah Warren beach across to the Eastney Spit for the mainland and Portsmouth. Twas on the ferry that Richard told us that the 'Wooden Spoon Award' rules had changed for this year! He had decided to make a 'pre-ride' award! Duly given to Kerry for his wee problem in organising his personal calendar having booked with Richard way back in March he then announced he had 'Grandson duties instead and withdrew. 2 weeks prior to our start he realised that he'd got confused with the Chichester cruise dates and rejoined our ride and thereby promptly claimed the WS. Having duly awarded it, Richard then announced that Kerry would have the privilege of deciding the next recipient for the first day's 'misdemeanour ' (more later). Once ashore we cycled westwards along the cycle track through Southsea arriving at the ferry terminal for Fishbourne in good time.

The sun was making a welcome appearance as we disembarked at Fishbourne and made our way east to Quarr Abbey. Having always passed this imposing building on the last 4 rides it was decided to make a fleeting visit! A Benedictine monastery with history going back to the 12th century, the current building some 113 years old. Lest you're wondering dear readers how to pronounce the name (🤔😳) of the Abbey, as I was, it's "Kwor" rhyming with "for". Moving on we cycled through Ryde by now looking forward to our normal lunch stop at the 'Appley Beach Cafe'. Not to be as it has changed and so after much consternation and discussion it was decided to head south for Bembridge. Slick 'googling' by Steve guaranteed us that it was going to be fine! And so it turned out to be!🤐

By now the sun was making a good show as we arrived at Bembridge Harbour passing the picturesque houseboats and settling down at a table on the beach at the 'Harbour View Cafe'. Top Tip should you be that way, no one was disappointed with their menu choices though the much vaunted crab dishes were sadly already sold out and off the menu😒.

It was hard to drag ourselves away (multi mugs of tea, I should add here, NO alcohol) but we had an aim to finally try the Sandown 'Pitch and Putt' before we booked in at our overnight hotel.

A brief visit en route at the NT Bembridge Windmill, magnificent views. One or 2 hills on a fairly busy road passing 'Bembridge Airport' (methinks a tad presumptuous in it's title), happily the last hill a smooth descent to Sandown with the English Channel now in clear view.

The 'Pitch and Putt' was open so we decided to divide ourselves into 2 teams of 4 with age deciding the split. 'The Young Uns' and 'The Old Fa..s' promptly set about attacking the course! Despite yours truly scoring the highest personal score (wasn't that what one was supposed to do😳) the OFs actually won, due largely I believe to Joe's wily skills of scoring the lowest round of us all. He really is a man of many talents, well done Joe 👏.

22.6 miles from Hayling to Sandown duly completed we checked in at the hotel on the seafront and even found time to award ourselves an ice cream as we recce'd the town for a likely dinner venue. All sorted, welcome shower and freshen-up back at the hotel, we descended on 'The Cardamon' restaurant. Another 'TopTip', really fine Indian dining, excellent value and more than ample to meet our collective appetites. Now the time had come for Kerry to announce his choice of the cyclist to be awarded the days Wooden Spoon. After a lengthy diatribe, much heckling and laughter by all, John was announced the worthy recipient and ribbed for his problems finding his IOW ferry ticket on his mobile phone in Portsmouth. Everyone had located their own tickets and queued up behind him for some time, much to his embarrassment. A swift nightcap at 'The Old Comical' brought our long first day to an end! Nothing to do with very very loud raucous 'pop' music of course🤔🙄. No Joe, you didn't miss very much!

DAY TWO

Tuesday dawned and after a hearty breakfast and a group photo on the prom we departed punctually at 9 am. Another disused converted old steam railway line took us over the middle of the island south to north. Charmingly called 'The Squirrel Trail' it winds its way gently over the top of the island providing more exceptional views, this time more rural than marine. What a contrast arriving at Newport and having to necessarily negotiate some urban and mildly industrial terrain. No worries though we soon descended through Gurnard to be treated to more fantastic views of the Solent with it's accompanying assortment of yachts, ferries, commercial ships and even a Cunard Queen cruise liner disgorging passengers onto a tender, doubtless to pay a visit to Osborne House. Welcome coffee stop on the Prince's Esplanade/Queen's Road before arriving in Cowes. Passing the Royal Yacht Squadron and walking through downtown Cowes with it's very picturesque (albeit trendy and no doubt expensive) shops and watering holes.

Yet another ferry trip, this time across the Medina estuary on the 'Cowes Floating Bridge’. A quaint chain ferry. Leaving East Cowes up the long hill and after passing Osborne House, Queen Victoria's island retreat and refuge on the IOW historically towards the end of her long reign, we returned to semi-urban/rural paths and roads. Finally descending down to Fishbourne to meet the supposedly earlier ferry at 13h40 rather than our booked 14h20 back to the mainland. 50 minutes later we actually embarked on what proved to be the next ferry at 14h20 to Portsmouth for a late lunch in the sunshine outside the historic 'Spice Island' pub.

32 miles already completed on Day 2 but still a few more to go! An agreed diversion around Langstone Harbour inland (rather than having to wait for the next pedestrian ferry back to Hayling) saw us briefly visit the 'Andrew Simpson' Centre (a new LWA windsurfing venue) via cycle paths finally rejoining the 'Hayling Billy Trail' at its northern end and so complete cycling it's whole length and complete our trip.

The final Wooden Spoon award made by John was to Richard for not correctly checking his timetable for the Fishborne--Portsmouth ferry! John kindly didn't mention that I should have been more deserving of this having caused something of an upset falling off my bike earlier in the day! Thank-you John also, along with his lady wife Deborah for providing me with welcome overnight accommodation on Sunday night thereby obviating the need for a very early departure from my home in Weymouth on the Monday morning. Our total mileage on my Strava (not including the mileage over the Solent) was 68.25. A final word heartfelt thanks from all 7 of us must go to Richard for his research, planning, updates/advice and leadership of the trip for an amazing 5th year. 👏. I know that I for one am already looking forward to next year.

Cheers Dave