Up the river..

On Wednesday I take the bus into Poole and walk through the Old Town to the Quay.  I have a ticket to go by boat through the Poole Harbour, up the River Fromme to the old Saxon town of Wareham.  I pick up a coffee and relax, waiting to board.

And we’re off!

This is the ship, Shieldhall that I will be going out on  for the day on Friday.  Watching the Bournemouth Air Show.

As we travel along the coast there is very expensive real estate.  They actually have beach shacks that have sold for £40,000!  Basically a shed on the beach used for changing and storing your beach paraphernalia!

Nearing the mouth of the River Fromme.

As we manoeuvre our way up this winding river there are several boats moored along its banks.  It’s much cheaper to moor your boat here rather than the harbour.

Arriving in Wareham.  You can see Lady St. Mary Church on the left.




The Lady St. Mary church.

This font is octagonal in shape and apparently the only one of its kind in existence.  The bowl is dated about 1100 and the stone base about a century later.

Lovely old buildings.

I then arrive in the town of Corte.  The famous Corte Castle ruins are straight ahead.

Gorgeous quaint properties.  I pass this place on my way to the castle.

Wow!  Built by William the Conqueror 11th century.

Amazing views from the castle walls over the land.

They were doing a re-enactment camp which was interactive for the kids.  They were having a terrific time.

You can just imagine how impressive this was back in it’s day....people bustling all about!

Leaving Corte headed for the bus stop.

Back in Poole where I started in the morning, I finish the day with a cool pint by the sea!

My housesit in Poole

Mary and I were planning on taking the bus down to Newport as the taxi company was unreliable but then we got a call from the taxi company and they said they would have a cab there in 20 minutes.  We decide to go with that because pulling my suitcase down the road would not be easy as the pavement was quite broken.  I arrive early at the ferry terminal and it’s not busy.  Only takes 25 minutes on the fast ferry and then I am in Southampton waiting to catch the train to Bournemouth. 

Crossing on the ferry from West Cowes, Isle of Wight to Southampton.

Arriving at the train station at Bournemouth.  Waiting for Sheila to pick me up.

This is my new home for the next ten days.  It’s lovely and Sheila is so welcoming.  Flora and Fleur (the two cats I am keeping company) are shy but I hope they will warm up to me.

The next morning Sheila is picked up by cab to head off on her vacation to Ireland.  I start exploring by going to a local coffee shop for a cup and a scone with clotted cream.  Really....the clotted cream is bigger than the scone! Yum!

I catch the number 5 bus in to Poole.  Takes me to the bus station so I can go to Tourist Information and figure out what I’m going to do for the next 10 days.  So much choice!

I walk through a large shopping centre and when I come out the other side I find the train station and also the beginning of Old Poole.  Lovely old buildings and pedestrian only streets.

I find this in the Poole Museum.  The women working there were very helpful.

Down on the Quay there is lots of history and several choices of boat tours to see this gorgeous coast.  

This ship is called the Shieldhall from Glasgow which is Britain’s largest working steamship.  She just happens to be on display but is also offering to take people out for the day to watch The Bournemouth Air Show over the next few days.  I get a ticket to go on Friday.  The weather is supposed to be good so I think this will be a unique experience to see the show from the water.

I tour the engine room.

I talk to a couple of the crew about bringing up the anchor.  They are so informative and obviously love what they do.

The view from the bridge.

Off to Yarmouth

OMG!  We wake up to torrential downpour and high winds.  What a change from yesterday!  

This is the view out the window at the house we are staying at.  It really doesn’t do it justice.  You can’t see all the rain on the window or it bouncing off the road.

We decide we are still going to do something and even if we ride the bus around the island at least we will be doing something.  We’re dressed the best we can to try and combat the rain and wind but when we step outside and our umbrellas are turned inside out we decide to call for a taxi to take us to the Newport bus station where we can hopefully board a bus.  After waiting over half an hour for the taxi I call back and the dispatch tells me he thinks I am joking and have purposely given him incorrect information because the driver came and we weren’t there....and then he hangs up on me!!!  Well now we head off to go to the bus stop....to heck with him....we make it but we’re already soaked.  We transfer to #7 which will take us to Yarmouth which is on the west coast.

We stay on the bus when we get to Yarmouth and decide to go to the end which is Alum Bay.  This is where the Needles is located.  It is a series of chalk stacks.  This would be something lovely to see on a good day but not today.  We can’t even see out the bus windows due to them steaming up.  There is a chairlift that takes you down to the beach but of course it’s closed due to the weather.

 

There is also quite a good amusement park including an arcade which die hard families were still trying to salvage something of the day.  We quickly hop back on the bus and go back to Yarmouth.

The King’s Head Pub is where we decide to go for warmth and to get dry.  It is also Sunday and there is the Sunday Carver happening and this is what we have been looking forward to.

It’s a cozy pub and this is what we have been looking forward to.  Lots of families playing cards and board games.  The family dog is under the table.

What a meal.  Roast pork, roasted potatoes, crackle, stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, sweet potato, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots.  All covered with gravy!  It’s like the family dinners I remember as a child but of course minus the pint of ale!  This was worth the trip.

We then go back out into the rain and wind and catch the #7 back to Newport and the #8 from there back to the house.  So glad to get back where it’s warm and dry.  Tomorrow I leave Mary and the Isle of Wight to go to Poole and my next housesit.  Sheila will be picking me up at the Bournemouth Rail Station.

Saturday - Ryde to Shanklin

This morning we have a leisurely start and then walk to the bus stop.  It’s about 10-15 minute walk from the house. We board the bus and head To Ryde which is northeast of Newport.  Not far.  About 30 minutes.  

Area of Ryde by the water. 

Looking over to the mainland of the U.K.

Hovercraft used for passengers from Portsmouth to Ryde.

Capturing the moment. 

There is a motorcycle event going on.  Most are old mopeds and vespas but there are a lot of them. 

This unique bike caught my eye.  It had a VW van done as a sidecar.  How creative!  I think it would be a blast riding in the sidecar.

And they had a fire truck.  Yes.  It’s a moped under all that!

Imagine riding this to a three alarm fire!

We then wait to catch the train to Shanklin.  Shanklin is south of ride. About 30 minutes.

This is the train we took.  It’s pretty old and when it gets going it a really bumpy ride!

This is the town of Godshill. Famous for the thatched roof cottages.

The Coastal Trail...lovely walk.

The Griffin Pub where we decide to finish our day with a pint in the garden...

And ribs for dinner!  We then take the bus home...lovely day.