Isle of Wight Pearl
On Sunday we set off to visit Isle of Wight Pearl and to see more of the southside of the island. After passing through Freshwater and the Freshwater Bay we had beautiful views out across the English Channel. The Pearl factory is right alongside the road and was initially very busy with other tourists off their coaches. This did give me the opportunity to watch and photograph (with permission) visitors choosing an oyster and having it opened and the pearl inside valued right before them.
The building had great views out over the cliffs with panoramic windows.
After a quick tea break I went out onto the cliffs to watch the birds and to take in the views. These cliffs were made of soil and from the colour of the sea were being eroded each and everyday. This image is a view along the cliff and you can plainly see the edge collapsing.
As you enter the main room a pearl dress belonging to Princess Diana is on display.
Lunch was a BBQ on the patio back at Norton Grange with music on electric guitar was provided by a member of the house band who did play a lot of Fleetwood Mac including ‘Albatross’. I did try the Sharps Pilsner again.
Fort Victoria
After the late lunch a walk along the coastal path away from Yarmouth took me to Fort Victoria to have a look at this old fort and to see the Hurst Castle at the other side of the Solent.
Fort Victoria is now in a country park and has lots of different attractions including simply watching the Lymington-Yarmouth ferry.
Walking to Fort Victoria I passed an abandoned pier and the remains of a speedboat that probably used to ply its trade from there.
The concrete sea defences that run alongside Norton Grange gave way to a shingle beach, here’s a view of Yarmouth looking along that beach.
Cowes
On Monday it was the turn of Cowes to be visited. The traffic through Newport was more like I was used to on the mainland with lots of queues. The WightLink guidebook recommended entering Cowes via Gurnard to take advantage of the views. Once there this meant we had relatively easy parking at The Parade. An easy walk from there to the pedestrian precinct and here’s a view down Shooters Hill.
As expected in Cowes there were lots of references to to yachts and to Cowes Week. Down one of the side streets towards the quays is this wall.
We had a coffee at The Fountain sitting outside by the Town Quay.
Afterwards I went along to have a look at the yachts out of the water.
On the way back to The Parade I came across this board outside a coffee shop – do you agree with the sentiment?
Back at The Parade we watched the the ferries coming and going and the fisherman patiently catching small fish and throwing them back for the next time.
For the rest of the visit to the Isle of Wight.