Epic European Cycle : 2015-07-08 : To Isle of Wight with Beth

Tip
Type Name Description Service Provider Cost Notes Actions
General Info To L&P From Prince of Wales to L&P (3 Capitains Parade). Walk - it's about 1.5 miles. $
General Info Isle of Wight Map $0.00
General Info Ordnance Survey Maps $0.00 I bought the Isle of Wight OS Explorer map today for our time on the island. Peter (from our B&B the last few nights) had lent us his map for Purbeck and it was extremely good. These are very very good maps for travel, hiking and cycling.
Travel
Type Name Service Provider Origin Destination Cost Notes Actions
Bus Harman's Cross to Swanage 44 Breezer Harman's Cross Swanage $0.00 Incl in price of 50 Breezer
Bus Swanage to Bournemouth 50 Breezer Swanage Bournemouth $30.00 Bus Station (Stop 1) take bus 50 to Bournemouth (Bournemouth bus). 48 stops along the way. Bournemouth comes up after Lansdowne then Unisys.
Ferry Ferry to Isle of Wight Red Funnel Southampton, England East Cowes, Isle of Wight $70.00 Return
Train Bournemouth to Southampton Cross Country Trains Bournemouth Southampton $52.00 CrossCountry train to Southampton Central (Manchester Piccadilly train). 27 min (2 stops). Platform 2. 13:12: Arr Southampton Central
Accommodation
Type Name Service Provider Confirmation Location Cost Notes Actions
Hotel Prince of Wales Booking.com East Cowes, UK $141.00 Incl breakfast
York Avenue, East Cowes


Trip Log

Notes Actions
Today was a travel day. We took the 44 from Harman's Cross to Swanage, then the 50 from Swanage to Bournemouth. We got rained on a little on the outside upper deck of the 50. Train to Southampton, and a detour into the bookstore where I picked up a couple of maps which I think will be really helpful for cycling the Isle of Wight. Then the Red Funnel ferry to the Isle of Wight where Lorraine and Pip were waiting to meet us! They piled us and our luggage into their van and drove us to our hotel to settle in, then came back to fetch us after an hour or so and fed us dinner and drinks. We had a wonderful visit, and Beth left early for her job interview (while on vacation... in ENGLAND).

Lorraine and Pip are letting us leave our stuff at their place while we're out cycle touring for four days. It feels very light-weight to be rid of our backpacks and have only what we absolutely need for four days in our day packs.
From Brent: If you wanted to do a speed trip of the IoW you could easily drive around it in a day with stops at a few points of interest but it is worth taking a little time and relaxing. There are lots of small things to check out along the way, small towns, small attractions, pretty view-points, beach walks. It is a place that encourages a slower pace. You could also spend a day at Osbourne House, Queen Victoria's and Prince Albert's private retreat. It's smallish and understated by European Palace standards, but makes a nice walking, picnic and historically informative day. It's good to see how the 'other half' chose to live.


Photos