2014-05-04 Isle of Wight Randonnee

so what time shall we meet at Waterloo then?

Train @ 1230, arriving 1407.
Meet on main concourse @ 1150-1200?
That allows for latecomers, buying obligatory train food and tickets, getting bikes sorted on train etc.

I might be on the 12.18 from E Croydon which should be at Portsmouth Harbour at 14.02 - fare is £27.60 return.

this is starting to sound like a plan. Do people have a pub/campfood preference? I'm wondering whether I should bring a stove...

I won't be bringing serious survival kit with me, partly because I'd like to travel light, but also thinking that nearby pubbes and shoppes will see to our nutritional needs.

But if there were a communal vat of mung daal or some such bubbling on a trangia, I'd be happy to contribute. Do you suppose Ocado deliver to Kite Hill campsite?

Pub.
I could bring a stove too though, for tea and wotnot.

sorry, should be careful with my varifocals and having my monitor too high: I read "wotnot" as "vomit"

That's a good point about hot drinks in the morning. Is there such a thing as a camping espresso pot? [goes off to google]

Do you suppose Ocado deliver to Kite Hill campsite?

checks

right I've emailed to drop the number of pitches down to 8. We have one more spot to fill otherwise you need to make your own booking.

There looks to be a Fish & Chip, Chineese and Indian takeaway place around from the campsite plus a couple of pubs that do a carvery and a majestic wine for those 'oh my god no chilled Marlborough Sav' moments, but no discernible supermarket. For supplies I'd recommend the co op in Ryde...

weather forecast is looking good for the weekend btw...

Do you suppose Ocado deliver to Kite Hill campsite?

I imagine they'd probably say 'no can do'.

Is the plan still to come back on the monday, rather than sunday evening?

It's also the w/end of the IoW beer festival at Havenstreet steam railway. About 5 mins ride from kite hill, (would be a wobble back mind!); so maybe worth staying for the w/end?

It's also the w/end of the IoW beer festival at Havenstreet steam railway.

Oh hello.... got to get a couple in there on Saturday!

It's also the w/end of the IoW beer festival at Havenstreet steam railway. About 5 mins ride from kite hill, (would be a wobble back mind!); so maybe worth staying for the w/end?

Fucking win! Pifko I only found out ita bank holiday today- extend visit. Extend I say

^ Where are you staying? Kite Hill too?

Beer List

Beer List

Yesssssss

Oh lawks, that beer festival is very close to the camp site.

Oh lawks, that beer festival is very close to the camp site.

plan: ride from ryde, set up camp, pick up groceries, got to beer festival.

so skipping the randonnee altogether?

Could we pub crawl around the island?

I'm getting excited about this now. Tent ordered, should arrive in next few days, rack identified, weekend reading ordered...

I think dude at Waterloo is right. I'm sure that you used to be able to get GS tickets which include the ferry but the National Rail site now points out that you can't GS on the ferry.

Is anyone else thinking of riding down from Effingham? I've realised the only problem with this is that at the moment there are only two of us and that means no GS on the way back, presuming everyone else will have bought tickets in London?

Also, who's doing it fixed? I can't put a rack on my road bike :)

I think last time we went the dude at Waterloo told us it was cheaper to do the groupsave for the train only. Then buy the ferry tickets at Portsmouth. The train return journey is £38 ish quid before groupsave.

Ludd: On coffee, I can bring my aeropress and porlex mini grinder. Then I just need some decent beans and hot water. I've used it camping before and it works well, although it takes 2 minutes to make each coffee.

^likewise, even started thinking about counting tent pegs

I ought really to concentrate on getting stuff done in my last day and a half of employment, and then I can spend thursday and friday playing with tents and bikes and stuff

I won't be riding down - I'm planning to use a bike that doesn't have luggage carrying capacity, and so will simply lug a rucksack with me on the train. and I'll be using gears.

For train tix and such Groupsave works for the train only. Good deal though and saves loads.
Def. get the fast (foot) ferry as it is timed to train arrivals and is connected to the train station. In reality the crossing takes about 12 mins.
There's so many decent pubs on the island i would bother taking anything but a coffee pot and stove. There is a drastic lack of good coffee there. Giant milky burnt cups are the norm.

Bialetti Moka express and small burner + pre ground coffee = camping win

News from the organisers:

I have just read on the Isle of Wight Council's FB page that the Cowes Floating Bridge will NOT be running on Sunday! The Randonnee team do have an alternative route planned to help cyclists get to the checkpoint at East Cowes and we will publish this as soon as possible. There is a small launch that crosses the river but this can only take a few bikes per trip, clearly this would cause big hold-ups if all riders went to Cowes. Please continue with your event preparations, the weather is looking dry and we are currently working on an alternative. Thank you.

To be honest, although that chain ferry is quite fun, it's a very slow way to cross that bit of water and a foray further inland might actually be a quicker way over to East Cowes.