2009-05-03 Sun - IoW Randonnee

Never question JW.

Rode the island with my brother today. I'd forgotten how hilly the whole island is. The only flat part is the section between Blackgang and Totland. I'm not sure what route the Randonnee takes, but we stuck as close to the coast as possible, and therefore had a lot of decents into bays followed by ascents back out of them.

The last time we went round the south-east of the island was covered in fog (see pic on page 1). At least this time I could enjoy the views on the climb out of Shanklyn to Ventnor!

I hope you lot have as nice a weather as we did today.

yeah what's going on next week peeps?

a few of us brightonians are ghonna be there going out on sat back on monday, starting at the wooton check point and camping in tipi's near upton,

should be epic

and prob aiming for a pub lunch in or around blackgang

ok i am not going to pre-book the ferry and train but the meeting point is 5:30 at Victoria

A number of us are staying over Sunday night, if you want to let me know and i'll help you with accomodation.

J man from J magazine fame.. how you getting on? found a location yet?

Looks like I am officially out. Damnit.

GS - will be updating later today dude. definitely going. just need to put the istics into logistics later.

good man keep that log steady before it's joined by the aforementioned istics but don't go bal or stat.. it's so easily done!

Tika - i can see you looking.. you got no excuse! i'll see you sunday morning!

Tip. If you travel over on the Portsmouth-Ryde passenger ferry and have to leave your bike outside, bring your water bottles in with you. The first couple of sips from my bottle once on the island tasted of nothing but salt!

good man keep that log steady before it's joined by the aforementioned istics but don't go bal or stat.. it's so easily done!

no problem, i was more thinking of going this direction

now that's a look to rock

greasy - i'm on board with you but will be returning same day. see you at the station.

Tip. If you travel over on the Portsmouth-Ryde passenger ferry and have to leave your bike outside, bring your water bottles in with you. The first couple of sips from my bottle once on the island tasted of nothing but salt!

cheers for the tip sam, but water bottles are not required (and i guess like me, many will be riding a track bike with no bosses) on the official randonee as their are ample water stops. sounds like you learnt that lesson the harsh way though. hope you enjoyed the ride at the weekend. i hope you followed the same route the randonee does - their are permanent signposts for the route.

ohh i want to do this! pretty sure i'm in.

oh wow it's this weekend. yea i'm in, if you'll have me. and no class/work on monday so i'd be down to stay over if others are.

There's a group of us heading over from Bournemouth/Poole for this, we'll be starting from Yarmouth around 10ish I think. No solid details as yet, but would be good to meet up with you lot if poss.

Guys, when you're at Blackgang look out for the disturbing memorial bench dedicated to an IOW motorcyclist called Pat Death..... it's by the cruddy amusement park.
Are you starting at Ryde? The roll over the planked-pier to Ryde Harbour is mildly diverting too: gaps between the planks exactly spaced to catch 23 rims! though you can take the train over the pier.

Would love to join you lot for the day, but am going to have to work some pretty impressive charms on my boss.

cheers for the tip sam, but water bottles are not required (and i guess like me, many will be riding a track bike with no bosses) on the official randonee as their are ample water stops. sounds like you learnt that lesson the harsh way though. hope you enjoyed the ride at the weekend. i hope you followed the same route the randonee does - their are permanent signposts for the route.

I didn't see any signage!

Here's the route we took, clockwise. We always try to stay as close to the sea as possible.

[ame]http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/280599[/ame

Freshwater Bridge was closed on our route, so we had to detour down through Freshwater to get up the other side of the estuary.

Are you starting at Ryde? The roll over the planked-pier to Ryde Harbour is mildly diverting too: gaps between the planks exactly spaced to catch 23 rims! though you can take the train over the pier.

I braved riding the pier a couple of years back but not this time! It's only a 5 minute walk anyway.

on the pier its all about zig zagging and annoying the car drivers

I went there last october - it's great. the anticlockwise route route is properly well signed with these.

have fun

Come on drop out!!!

I went there last october - it's great. the anticlockwise route route is properly well signed with these.

have fun

Yes, and the clockwise route is signed with white-on-blue-background signs.