I took a day off today and probably will tomorrow. off – just that I did the short walk, which was just over six miles. A sinus infection is plaguing me, and I thought a more restful day would help. Actually, I thoroughly enjoyed the tourism involved in this walk, which is why I may take the short itinerary tomorrow also. Weather is much milder here than in the Lake District. The wind blows to the land. Too windy to wear my sun hat, but it wasnt particularly cold – jacket in the morning and shirt sleeves in the afternoon. Mix of sun and cloud.
We spent most of the morning on Tennyson Way, walking up Tennyson Down and past Tennyson Monument to the Needles . Apparently he like walking here. The Down begins almost literally outside the door of the hotel. It forms a long rising slope, with a small undulation at the monument, which is on the height of land. The monument is a navigational aid that replaces an old, worn, wooden one, of which we saw a replica later on.
several jags of rock joined to the Island underwater. They also seem to extend underwater, so are probably a significant navigational hazard. They are of the white chalk characteristic of here, so they shine brilliantly when the out. Being the most westerly land at the entrance to The Solent , battery fortifications of yore were in evidence. Also, a former rocket launching site.
Within sight of the Needles are the sand cliffs of Alum Bay . For some reason the cliffs are striated in various colours ranging from deep daffodil yellow through pale red to dark and light grey. Approaching them made me want to be a painter because the light made the colours look like moving geology.
At the top of the cliffs was a holiday park for families, inclusive of a tiny a game, several souvenir and candy shops, and fill your own shape store which sells the coloured sands and empty containers for your own artistic creation. Plus, there is a cable car down (and up) to the beach. Since the alternative was a foot path with 100 stairs, and I was told the lift was brilliant, I took the Launching
out over the tree tops and then steeply down to the beach, it was suitably scary – enough that I didnt take any pictures in either direction, even though signs reminded you to have your cameras ready. We spent a relaxed hours.
Then back to the Down to return to the hotel by a lower path. Very nice stroll along a grassy path, then along a woodland path, requiring no concentration. We ended at what they said was a very rare thatched church, consecrated in 1908, although the corner stone seems to say 1694!
Back at the Hotel, they laid on a full English tea at with sandwiches and many cakes. Regrettably, I wasnt very hungry after the short walk.
