Views of the Isle of Wight October 2018
Portsmouth’s Premier Inn was the meeting point for 20 of the 28 cars that first of all gathered at The Merry Miller near Oxford for the lunchtime rendezvous on Saturday 13th October 2018.
The ferry on Sunday was to be an easy 10.30am sailing next day, although all who attended will remember the almost biblical downpour on the short drive to the quayside.
It’s only a 45-minute sea crossing the Solent to Fishbourne, a journey which provides some memorable harbour and island views. In a somewhat ironic twist, one of the ferries heading for Cowes ran aground the following Sunday morning in poor visibility, fortunately nobody was injured.
Our lunch stop on the island was Osborne House near Cowes, said to be the favourite summer home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and very grand and palatial it was too. Royalty in all the splendour of that era.
From here our journey through the narrow lanes took us to Newport and a dogleg route along the coast at Brighstone Bay to Freshwater, and then on to The Needles, for some dramatic scenery on the edge of the coastal cliff tops.
We took an alternative return ferry from nearby Yarmouth to Lymington. This allowed us a return journey through the tranquillity of the New Forest and a 40mph speed limit throughout, keeping a sharp look out for the often-signposted, free-running “wild horses”.
In our convoy we were blocked by more than a few groups of slow moving “wild cows”, which was a first and much more intimidating than the horses! They sidle up so close to the car, you cringe that any slight movement on your part will leave a dent all the way down the side of the car, or worse!
An enjoyable weekend and great thanks to the ringleaders Andrew Brierley and Angus Fox of 928.org. Le Mans style Commemoration plaques were awarded to all.
David Hemmings, 928 Register Secretary