I promised myself that if a bus turned up within two minutes of my arrival at the bus stop at the bottom of our road, I would save myself a bit of time and get on. Something was working in my favour because I looked around just as I got there and stuck my hand out to request a stop. Pretty much simultaneous arrival. It was lucky really as the rain wasn’t particularly heavy but it was persistent.
The ferry trip over to portsmouth was a little bit bumpy, which had me wondering what the Catamaran trip might be like. i could see that the water out in the solent, outside the harbour entrance was distinctly choppier than inside the harbour, which promised an interesting ride.
All the good timing meant that I had about half an hour to wait at the Wight Link terminal, which was fine. I watched people & dogs. The man almost opposite managed to cover himself in coffee whitener as he tore open the packet, which perked up the interest of the dog belonging to the man sitting two seats down from him, and meant a bit of restraining. The Dachshund 10 seats down started to get excited as well, and was yapping away, with his owner trying to quieten him.
Boarding was smooth and efficient and the Cat slipped smoothly away from the mooring and did its twirling to line up with the harbour exit. The journey started nicely, with the slow gentle cruise along the exit channel, it was when the captain started adding throttle as we moved out of the channel heading towards Ryde that it got a bit more interesting.
Before Aurora was born, I confess, babies & young children crying used to bother me a bit – I guess that’s what it is intended to do, grab attention, and Hoo yes, this one was doing that! The little boy or girl was having a monumentally serious meltdown, the increase in speed had added a delightfully exciting bounce to the trip with some good stomach drops. Oh dear, that was not popular, each bounce brought an increased intensity of the screams, which I could clearly make out to include the phrase “I want to get off” and “Are we there yet”? it was only when the Captain eased off for the approach Ryde Pier that the screaming eased to some serious sniffles. The docking was as smooth as the departure.
The trains now run all the way down the pier (they had been suspended for quite a while – maintenance to the pier), which at just under half a mile long (the second longest pier in the UK) would take me roughly 10 – 15 minutes to walk. There were no indications as to when or if a train was due, so I decided I had to walk. It was a good job I’d worn my full-length raincoat. The 25mph south-westerly wind was blowing straight into my face, full of what can only be described as obese raindrops, great blobs of water that seemed unhealthily excited at the prospect of making my walk as miserable as it could.
I was determined that the rain wasn’t going to beat me. There were several groups of people walking toward the end of the pier, and as they approached me, I’d smile and say cheerfully “Bit of an adventure isn’t it”? Nobody responded to me, but I did notice expressions on faces that aligned with “who is this weirdo”? (see earlier posts about weirdos, I thought it more apt than nutter).
Luckily, the bus was waiting, with door open. I boarded and waved my pass at the sensor, giving the bus driver a cheery “Good Morning”. The bus driver responded with “‘Morning, how are you”? I replied “Wet”. She laughed.
I arrived in Newport just over an hour before I was due to be at the pub. I took the opportunity to have a browse in Waterstones, and yes I decided that after my event, I would return and buy a book or two.
What was this all for you might ask? It was the day of the Isle of Wight Radio Society’s Christmas meal – these events are always interesting. Meeting people that you speak to on a fairly regular basis, whom you only see once a year – some for the first time. The pub was The Bargemans Rest, and the food was delicious.
I will be brief about the return journey; it was routine, unexciting and dark. But, it was the end of a delightful day. Everything linked up and I was home by 1750. A lovely day out.
Bills Posts 