It is early Monday morning 13th July. It is a start of a weeks holiday on the Isle of Wight for me and my three boys George, James and Richard. Our original plans have been torpedoed by the Coronavirus restrictions. We would have been on the mainland - almost certainly camping - and meeting up with my daughter Vic husband Phil and my two darling grand daughters. Alas it is not possible - or perhaps more accurately expedient - which is a real shame.
So what to do? Well we all recognise when you holiday at home it is too easy to get caught up in ordinary domestic stuff - so we have agreed an activities programme! We are active anyway and there are not many things we have not done on the Island - but putting a lot of them together gives our holiday focus and provides and interesting challenge.
In a nutshell we are going to do a lot of physical stuff during each day - and then we will take in turns each evening to sort dinner. The daytime physical activity is to offset any excesses in the evening - ha!
So here is an account of how the week unfolded. It is recorded mainly for posterity but others might find it of some interest.
So Monday morning. The first planned activity is a nominated 4 mile run. The idea is we will start at different times with the objective of more or less finishing together. It was not a race - but some how it was. The boys are all regular runners (Rich slightly less so) and I am a jogger. The distance is set not to drain me and is a flat course along the seawall from Seaview to Ryde canoe lake and back. Handicap mile times are agreed. George 6.30 Rich 7.30 James 7.45 and me (a hot!) 9.45. That means I get an 8 minute start off James and 13 minutes over George. It was a hot morning because we ran at 10am. Rich younger than the twins by 13 years ran well under his handicap and passed me before the 3 mile mark. George passed me with with just under a half mile to go. James didn't have his best run. Here are the finishing times.
1st Rich - 26.00 = 6m 30s/mile
2nd George - 25.23 = 6.25s/mile
3rd Dad - 39.11 = 9m 54s/mile
4th James 36. 00 = 9m/mile.
 |
| Before the run - start of a full week |
 |
| Gradually recovering |
The afternoon we have tennis. George and I have joined Ryde Lawn TC because there is no squash because of covid restrictions. Tennis is not James's forte so the three of us played. We have our own format - rotate 2 against one - the doubles pair shooting into the singles court. Who can win the most singles games ? In the end it was George 3 and Rich and I 1 each. It was really good fun. A lot of mickey taking - a lot of squash type drop shots. George is no slouch - Rich is electric quick with a tremendous reach (reminded me of his mum - lol!).
James was left at home to prepare dinner. We had agreed a "Come Dine With Me" competition and James was up first. More on that later.
When we got back it was a hot late afternoon. We all had a swim off Quay Rocks, Seaview and then it was a beer or 2 in the garden. Apart from James's dinner party to come the main thought is preparing for tomorrows Randonee - a 110k bike ride around the Island. When it is the official Randonee there are drinks stations and our favourite stop Yarmouth Primary School - where the PTA put up great food as a fundraiser for them and an easy watering hole for the riders. Alas we are on our own this year and need to plan to carry all the drinks and food we will need for the epic pedal - lol!
 |
| Swim Quay Rocks Seaview |
"Come Dine With Me". My main motivation for suggesting this was to find a crafty way to share the responsibility for cooking dinner! James was first up. He went all out for bonus points by creating place setting names while we were playing tennis. His starter was prawn cocktail (excellent) followed by chichen korma and chocolate fudge cake and ice cream! Guests raised an eyebrow at the cohesiveness of the menu. Scores to be revealed at the end of the week!
 |
| James on "Come Dine With Me" |
Next day a very early start. Rich likes to be in charge of the food - because it is so important to him - ha! He is the man for fresh filled rolls!
The Randonee. The annual round the Isle of Wight bike ride called The Randonee is staged by The IOW Wayfarers Cycling Club. It is a free event and attracts a lot of cyclists from the mainland. It is over 100 kilometres with a lot of hills. We do it most years and do so as casual cyclists on hybrid bikes. (The majority are lycra clad road bike riders who knock off the distance in no time.) Of course the Randonee was cancelled this year so we planned to do it under our own steam. We eventually set off from Seaview at 7.45 am. It was a lovely day - a breeze - dry - but not too hot. We know the route so well. Part of the fun is to relive the memories of previous years. Basically we breezed around despite an Island Road's detour before Gurnard that forced us on to Forest Road and via Northwood.
 |
| Early morning start for our Randonee |
George suggests a beer on the way home - to be the first in a pub since the lockdown. (of course this is usually how we finish the Randonee). But where? We head for The Solent Inn, Ryde they have done up the beer garden. In was a perfect choice (no hills back to Seaview!).
 |
| first pub pint since lockdown - Solent Inn Ryde |
CDWM is George tonight. (I thought he would have plenty of energy!). It's a nice evening and we are starving. George does a barbecue. (the salted roasted baby potatoes went down a bomb!) Scores later!
 |
| George - CDWM barbecue effort |
Wednesday - a less energetic day by planning. We are not golfers but like pitch and putt at Brown's Sandown. We try and play properly but there is a lot of black humour and let us say sledging! I lose my title with a couple of dodgy holes. Rich has a good day with his driver to the extent we think he has had some lessons - lol! James is amazing - he gets the job done despite most of his shots are daisy cutters!
Afternoon is a sea swim followed by badminton in the garden. We have played a lot of badminton over the years at the IOW Sports Club. James pairs up with Rich against me and George. There is a bit too much breeze for the light shuttle and somehow the youngsters take a 2 game lead! We get it back to level and somehow lose it 3 - 2. James was full of it!
CDWM is Richard. Rich has an interest in food and has moved beyond my one pot wonders. He made his own pizza bases for his light starter. Controversy - Rich uses James's place names! Is that within the rules!!?
 |
| Rich CDWM - home made pizza starter |
Thursday an early morning logistical rush. The plan is to sail my little boat to Chichester for an overnight stay. Wind and tide are favourable but while Gold Crest technically has 4 berths at 22' she is more suited for 2. But we are up for an adventure - some fun - and are all experienced campers so we will survive. Everyone is looking forward to it - and we take plenty of food and some beer for the evening. It is lovely sailing - light westerly breeze with a bit of north in it. We head east in the early morning sun - very few other boats around - away from the maddening crowd. I make the tea with the boys on the helm. George is keen to fish for mackerel and he is soon catching them on a handline under sail. (What can be more natural than that!?)
We can sail into the narrow harbour entrance and there is plenty of water over the bar for us. Chichester Harbour is so lovely - a special place and it is not too long before we have anchored off East Head in the shallows. We are starving. The boys lay in the sun while I fillet and light fry the mackerel. In no time they are served up with fresh rolls and salad (all part of CDWM - it is me today).
The afternoon drifts by - we lie in the sun - have a couple of swims. Idyllic. The beer comes out. I prepare dinner - on the one burner! (Dinner is ok - but not expecting to win - lol!) George is keen to fish. I set up a float trot with mackerel strip for bait. I leave him to it while I am cooking. No luck. It is dusk. I have a go - let the float go with the tide. One nice bass in no time - lol!
Sleeping is tight. We sleep under the stars with the hatch open. James and I sleep like a log. George and Rich reckon there is some snoring!
 |
| dosing East Head |
 |
| Dad CDWM - not much room! |
 |
| East Head |
Next day we are away early. George knocks up sausage and bacon rolls on the sail back in a fresh breeze. We get back late morning with just a couple of tacks. Great - it was a memorable little trip - so varied and so lucky with the weather including the breeze.
 |
| George getting breakfast |
In the afternoon we have a 2 hour tennis court booked. I get a call from some old boys to fill in on a doubles match so leave George and Rich to play a proper singles match. They have a good battle.
Later it is the first Friday pint in Wetherspoons since the lockdown. Nothing like a Ruddles at £1.29 per pint! We have a chinese takeaway. Richard unbelievably is out for the night with his old school friends and gets in at 1.30am apparently!
 |
| First pint Wetherspoons - surrounded by perspex! |
Saturday is the bigee. Why are we bloody doing it!? Masochisim! We are set to do the Walk the Wight - 26 miles across the middle of the Island - much high on the chalk downs that form the backbone of our dear Island. It is a full on walk - many hills - and a hard grind despite the oft spectacular scenery. The Walk the Wight is an annual event that has been going for many years to raise funds for the local Hospice. It is normally staged the 3rd week in May and attracts 3 or 4000 people (many do half the route). Year after year we do the Randonee (1st week in May) and then feel we should do the WTW despite the groans! Like the Randonee covid has meant the official WTW has not happened but for some reason we choose to do it anyway - to round off our "activity" week!
With the staged WTW there are drink stations and places to buy food. Today we have to be fully self contained. We are also joined by Richard's partner Andy who is doing it for the first time. We are up at Culver early and head west in fine spirits. It is a beautiful morning - the forecast is good. The weather turns out to be perfect and it makes such a big difference. Visability is good and there is a fantastic breeze which accompanies us most of the day. It seems more special without the other walkers. In the end it turns out to be one of the best WTW I have done. (Over the years I have learned to deal with hot spots early - so no discomfort.)
One thing I will share with you. When you get to Freshwater Bay you are bound to be tired but it is easy to think you are near the end. In fact you still have about 4 miles to go. What a 4 miles. It can be brutal - totally exposed to the prevailing wind - and if it is raining!! However on this day it would be hard to find somewhere more natural - more secenic. Huge sky - huge sea - birds eye views of the Solent - contrast of the huge white chalk cliffs and the wonderful bright green springly downland grass topped off by the brilliant sun which we are now walking towards. But it is still a hard 4 miles. In my experience everyone is always only focused on getting to the finish - talked out over the previous 22 miles. (they are fed up of hearing that we are walking on what once was the sea bed!) This is my tip. It is the time to get the IPOD out. On goes the Polaroids and I set The XX essential playlist on loud. The sunglasses accentuate the vivid colours to spectacular and the music is totally uplifting. I was zoned out. It was amazing - fully energised - happy - satisfied - privileged - content.
We get to Alum Bay at 5.50pm - so a long time.
 |
| Walk the Wight route |
 |
| Start Culver |
 |
| Chalk and flint - sedimentary rock - we are walking on the sea bed - pushed up when the Alps were formed! |
 |
| Tennyson |
 |
| finish Alum Bay |
Laura (George's partner) is there to meet us. (thank you Laura!). Rather than heading back we have arranged a camp site close by and we head straight there to get the tents up before a beer. The Isle of Wight is a small place! We are camping at Heathfield Farm - a site owned by one of George's squash mates and run by Richard's ex music teacher and his wife! Small tents go up quickly and showers (Covid distancing!!). We have booked a table at one of my favourite Island pubs - the Highdown Inn. Despite covid rules the atmosphere is relaxed - the beer perfect and we are all hungry. What a good decision.
 |
| a nice evening but easy to get cold when you stop |
 |
| Laura backed us up - top camper xxx |
There is a lot to discuss about the day and about the week over dinner but the main topic becomes to decide the Come Dine With Me winner! There is a party mood. We agree to be candid but objective lol! Laura and Andy are the arbiters. We agree each of the participants give their views but we will finish with a secret ballot! A quick summary - James - good effort with the handmade place names - top prawn cocktail - not enough veg with the main (hotly disputed by James) - and good score for the chocolate fudgecake and icecream (but shop bought!). Rich - as I mentioned previously - James grumbling Rich poached his place names! I thought Rich's starter was the size of a main course! Rich grumbles his sweet/cheese course was not scored because we were too full to eat it! Consensus George's barbecue was great but it was easy for him because we were starving and the weather was perfect. Me - the crew all agreed I did well - considering the constraints on the boat - lol! Now the vote. We send a text to Laura. Controversial and hilarious! In 4th place dad - harsh. 3rd George. Drum roll. 2nd Rich (stunned disbelief). James disturbs the Highdown with a cheer and punching the air! Laughing all round at the upset. It turns out James gives everyone terrible marks. It's saboutage! It's funny - it's outrageous!!
 |
| The Highdown Inn |
We all sleep like logs. An early wake up. George produces coffee and bacon sarnies. Perfect. Laura drives us back home - the other end of the Island - and it is so apparent how far we had walked the day before!
What a week. We all really agreed it felt like a proper holiday. It takes a few days to recover - lol! xxxx
