Isle of Wight Coastal Path. Day 3.

After an exceptional night’s sleep we woke to a poodle towering above us, demanding that we get up immediately.

After a sufficient amount of tea and meggle time, we went for a hearty breakfast at my new favourite hotel. Eric wasn’t allowed but she did receive a takeaway upon our return.

The day was windy and overcast, but after relentless overnight rain, it was now at least, dry. We hugged the coast all day, and after a morning of esplanade features of interest, including little book stores, Snake’s made-up but deeply rich historical rundown of a pier she’d just seen for the first time, arcades, kiosks, people’s outfits and surprising dog names (Sophie?!) We eventually began to climb up a hill to a monument.

The sun came out and we lost ourselves in a holiday park due to more path closures on the coast. Eventually we saw a rare diversion sign which directed us out to the main road. No more signs in sight…. I think you need to either close a path and let people work it out, or, close it and lay on a full hand-holiding diversion. Am I right?

Now in need of a cuppa, we marched on to Bembridge and found a lovely tea room, the contents of which were poodle loving old ladies. Marvellous.

This is an extremely dog friendly trail, Eric was offered smiles, treats and water at every turn. And, how clever was it of us making her carry her food?

After a hefty cheese and pickle sandwich in Bembridge we left, out into the windy sun. We passed over the causeway over Bembridge Harbour and from here we handrailed the coastline. Eric is desperate to be on the beach at every possible occasion she bears right at every set of steps and every slip way.. Not tired enough by all her walking to date she sees fit to steal all the balls from all the other dogs, then, if it’s ever returned to them, she shouts at them until they give it back.  She pelts about like shes had no exercise in days.

We popped into the next pub for a beer and a couple of rounds of rummie. Snakes spent most of it trying to devise a way to avoid breaking out the tent tomorrow. As she had tonight, by booking us an apartment in Ryde. We’re still upset and ignoring our tent, really glad we carried it all this way though.

Having turned off the esplanade in Ryde we walked uphill trough town, Snakes dipped into a shop for some supplies and we carried on to the top to be welcomed into a lovely top floor apartment. Eric had a bed laid out ready and there were chews in a tin for her. Just as our host had given a full tour of the place she hung about the door frame for too long informing us that this room was usually £30 more and that she charges for dogs, but that booking.com had messed up and upgraded us without telling her.

I felt awkwardly like she thought we might have the solution, (we didnt). I think she hoped I’d whap out a £50 and hand it over. We were in the room, we had been for some time, boots were off and she had lingered moaning about how it had gone too cheaply for a little too long.  After advising her three times that “this sounds like a chat for booking.com” I eventually slapped my knees (like an old man) stood up , pretty matter of factly, to go, nowhere in particular. This served very effectively as a polite, very English way to make her leave.

We ordered Indian takeaway and watched shows. Bliss.

15.2 miles on the day