The hotel
lost access to its gas supply so breakfast was a little limited. Everything
microwaved and to be honest a little inedible. Was glad to get back on the road
The storm
last night continued to blow all day so my circumnavigation of the island was
intere3sting to say the least. I have been to the island a few times as it was
where Susie and I had our first few wedding anniversaries. Took the road out of
Ryde and followed it to Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor. Did my first big climb
up the Cowleaze Hill before dropping down into Bonchurch to check out the old
hotel that Susie and I used to stay in. Was still there but now a holiday home
complex. I had planned to ride across the top of the sea defences to Ventnor
but had to push the bike for some of the distance as the storm was whipping up
the waves.
Leaving
Ventnor I cycled past the Royal Hotel, a more recent stay a couple of years
ago, and then onto the road to Blackgang. This was a bit of gamble as Google
maps said there was a way through but the road had deadend signs on it and no
traffic. I know that this area of the coast had has problems with erosion and
that parts of the road had collapsed into the sea and that they also had
problems with landslides but I discovered from the postman that the road had
been reopened for cyclists and pedestrians so I was able to get through.
Once past
Blackgang what should have been an easy enough ride upto Freshwater Bay became
one of the most difficult bike rides I have ever done. With 40 knot winds
whipping in from the sea (which looked very dramatic) I was in constant danger
of being pushed into traffic. The wind was coming in from side so I had to ride
extremely slowly and grip the brakes so I could stop instantly I felt the bike
being pushed. Stopped in a couple of parking bays to get a rest, in one of them
I was chatting to a local family buying ice cream when a gust of wind pushed
the wife into a puddle it was that strong! On the last climb into Freshwater
Bay it was impossible to ride as the wind was swirling and coming at me from
various directions.
Thank
goodness that he route after that took me inland and rest of the ride to
Yarmouth and then onto East Cowes was far less adventurous. In hindsight the route
from Yarmouth should have been via West Cowes and then over the chain ferry but
somehow I messed that up. Just missed the ferry to Southampton so had a bit of
as wait but eventually made it back to the mainland. Had a lovely chat with
June on the ferry who had served a pay clerk in the civil service. Small world
so we chatted about our various memories of paying soldiers
Caught the
ferry to Hythe which has a very old electric train that takes you the length of
the pier. The road to Steves place in Calshot was easy enough to follow and
thus finished probably one of the most challenging days riding (at least with
regards wind) I have ever done. Lovely meal and a catchup with my friends.
Biggest disappointment
of today was that I let my phone run down to less than 15% and consequently Strava
crashed out. Yes it recorded where I started but it didn’t kick in again until I
was able to plug in my auxillary battery pack. Lesson learned, don’t let the
phone get low, Android does weird stuff with running apps
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