Wight two

For the second day of our expedition to the southern island, we elected to take the train to Shanklin and take a look at the chine. Ventnor Botanic Gardens was deemed too complicated by public transport. With this steep, annually visited chine looking from OS to be the work of an unnamed stream which rises in Greatwood Copse a little over a kilometre to the south west.

Shut chine

Alighted at Shanklin railway station to take our usual stroll through town, lively enough but with plenty of charity shops. Picked up the toy already noticed at reference 2.

We had not thought to check at reference 1 and arrived to find the chine shut for a few more weeks yet. But we were able to explore the head of the chine, above the paying part. Taking in what seemed like some very large celandines along the way.

Upchine

Then down the public path to the beach, where tide and weather were spot on for a stroll back to Sandown station. Culver Down visible to the north, although we did not make it that far. Maybe twenty years ago.

Beach

Flat for sale

We paused at Napier Apartments, where our one-time ambition to retire to the island flickered. Good location, but one wondered about the cliff behind. Moving on, a fair proportion of the pubs and cafés were not yet on-stream, but we were able to take soft refreshment in the Steamer Inn, a cheerful and reasonably busy place with a fine collection of nautical memorabilia. A place where BH was confident we had eaten in the past.

Steamer Inn

Oars by Ayling

The oars looked very big and heavy to me, but the label suggests that they did belong to a racing eight or some such. They appear to have been swallowed up in a company called Lola, but I did learn that 'Aylings was founded in 1859 as an Oar and Scull manufacturer. After quickly gaining a reputation for excellence it was awarded a Royal Warrant. Aylings began building boats in the early 1980's after buying Carbocraft Company. Its current owner, A.J. Morris purchased Aylings in 1997, and in 1998 the company bought Kobra Kayaks. Aylings now supplies boats to crews of all levels, ranging from World and Olympic class down to Club, School and University levels. They also provide top class K1, K2 and K4 Kayaks as well as recreational / touring Single and Double Skiffs, and Oars and Sculls'. Reference 3 is the right name but unintelligible while the company at reference 4 does not look likely to include oars in its core business.

Pie shop

On to Daisy's Bakery and Tearooms, an establishment we have visited in the past, where we took tea, meat and potato pie and fruit cake. This last coming in a rather generously cut wedge.

Crazy golf one

Crazy golf two

The latest thing in crazy golf, somewhere along the way. A reminder that the island is full of interesting geology and includes a respectable dinosaur museum. Visited and seemingly not noticed, but see reference 5.

In due course, we rounded out the day with an adequate fish and chips from the busy main bar at our hotel. Adequate, but the fish was a little wet to my taste and was not up to standard of the similarly priced Wetherspoons.

Reference 1: https://www.shanklinchine.co.uk. A site which certainly exists but which is sometimes hard to reach.

Reference 2: http://psmv4.blogspot.com/2019/03/iq.html.

Reference 3: http://www.lola-aylings.com/.

Reference 4: http://lolacars.co.uk/.

Reference 5: http://www.dinosaurisle.com/newhomepage.aspx.

Group search key: gha.