Isle of Wight

Looking back from Shanklin to Sandown

Thursday 2nd January 2025

We are staying at Laura's house on the Isle of Wight, we arrived on Monday and have been suprised at how busy it has been - lots of people coming here for the New Year! We had two long walks on Monday and Tuesday - skipped Wednesday because of the rain and set off again today - what a glorious day! We took the bus to Sandown and then walked along the Coastal Path to Ventnor. The views were amazing, it was hillier than you might think not helped by the several diversions in place because of landslips. We ate our sandwiches and had our flask of tea in Ventnor then caught the bus back to Ryde. Overall about 18km today which is not bad - we are both worried about our aches and pains and whether they will stop us from doing the Camino - my plantar faciitis is much better but I do still feel it. And Robin has problems with his knee and achilles - which is getting better but will it be good enough?!

In the evening we watched Gladiator - it has not aged and the fight scenes are great - I cried at the end as usual. For anyone who has watched the film - the shots of the hand touching the corn heads as he walks through the fields to go home, are instantly recognisable. What a great film!